Philippines urged to open market for Thai farm products

BANGKOK, December 12 (TNA) - Thailand is seeking to boost its sales of rice and poultry in the Philippines, and also ask the country to lift its ban on Thai chicken imports. Acting Thai Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisal, said Thursday he had discussed the matter with the Philippines Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo on the side of the World Trade Organization conference in Bali. The Philippines has set this year's quota for Thai rice imports at about 100,000 tonnes, but actual imports have been much lower. Thailand is hoping to export up to 30,000 tonnes of chicken meat to the Philippines in 2014 following the latest ban imposed after bird flu outbreaks. On related matters, the Acting Thai Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisal said he met with Canadian Trade Minister Edward Fast on Thursday, to seek an extension on tariff cuts on Thai imports to the country, at least until a bilateral free trade deal is signed next year. (TNA)