Fair trade agreements

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

One of the controversial issues that delayed the ratification of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) is an alleged provision that would allow Japan to send toxic waste to the Philippines, making our country a dumping ground for hazardous and unwanted substances.

As part of President GMA's visit to Japan, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon has announced that Japan will give formal assurance to Philippine Senators that it will not be dumping toxic and hazardous waste on the country.

JPEPA is a trade agreement that was originally intended to facilitate the trading of goods and services between the two countries. President Arroyo claims that, if signed, Japan would be opening up its agricultural market for the Philippines and that it includes benefits that go beyond market access. It also includes human resource development, financial services, IT, energy and environment, science and technology, transportation and infrastructure. Under the pact, Japan would also be opening up its healthcare services market to allow more Filipino nurses and caregivers to work there. However, all these benefits have been put on hold because of the controversial provision that could allow the entry of Japanese toxic waste into the country.

The news that the Japanese government is willing to sign a side agreement that it will not export those hazardous materials to the Philippines comes as a welcome development, and the Philippine Senate should rightly demand for such a letter of assurance, because trade agreements come with a price.

That sneaky provision wouldn't be there if it weren't meant to be exploited some way or another and all those perceived benefits would not be worth it if they would turn Philippine soil into a dumpsite for Japanese toxic waste. Our government officials have the obligation to make sure that we go into trade agreements like JPEPA as fair trading partners and not as victims of the hazardous toxic wastes brought in if we allow our country to be turned into a dumpsite.*