International engagement is an important function for our agriculture industry. We engage in multilateral and regional opportunities to advance Australia’s interests. We pursue agriculture trade and market access opportunities through multilateral negotiations, high-level bilateral meetings, and the overseas counsellor network to deliver outcomes reflecting our national priorities and international interests. We work closely with our international partners to determine and pursue common goals.
The Philippines and Australia have a strong and mutually beneficial agricultural relationship underpinned by our close and longstanding bilateral partnership, elevated to a Strategic Partnership in September 2023.
The Philippines-Australia Agriculture Forum (PAAF) is the key forum for senior officials from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) to engage on trade and other matters of mutual interest including policy exchanges and cooperation activities.
The PAAF met for the sixth time in Canberra, Australia and via videoconference on 17 March 2025 and was co-chaired by DAFF Deputy Secretary Tina Hutchison and Atty. Asis G. Perez, DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and Regulations.
The co-chairs recognised the importance of the rules-based trading environment and committed to working together in relevant multilateral institutions including ASEAN, APEC, and the Cairns Group in the WTO to support open, transparent and predictable trade. New opportunities to enhance trade and market access outcomes for our agriculture and agri-food sectors including under Invested; Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 were noted at the meeting.
The parties acknowledged the cooperation activities underway to enhance trade and biosecurity outcomes, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and build sustainable fisheries and discussed our shared interests in strengthening livestock disease diagnostics and genetics.
The co-chairs held productive discussions on traceability, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, soil health, and emissions reduction, and noted the importance of the principles-based, no one size fits all approach to sustainability in the agriculture sector.
In discussion on each country’s priority market access requests, the Philippines confirmed its priority remains access for Cavendish bananas and fresh dragon fruit. Australia’s priority is recognition of irradiation as an alternative phytosanitary treatment for fresh fruit.
The co-chairs reaffirmed the importance of ongoing cooperation and constructive engagement to strengthen two-way agricultural trade and looked forward to the seventh PAAF to be hosted by the Philippines in 2027.
The Joint Statement was signed by the co-chairs on 17 March 2025 in Canberra, Australia.