Philippines looks to China for farms 'windfall' when fruit ban ends
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MANILA- China will lift a Philippine fruit ban and explore broader farm and fisheries imports and investments in its fledgling farm sector, the Philippine agriculture minister said, signalling serious intent by Manila to beef up business with Beijing.
China would resume shipments from 27 blacklisted fruit exporters as a "gift" when President Rodrigo Duterte visits with a business delegation from Oct. 19-21, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol told Reuters on Sunday.
"I would look at that as a goodwill move," he said. "The atmosphere would be positive."
Pinol's comments suggest Duterte is following through on his promises to build a commercial alliance with China, made repeatedly in speeches in which he has angrily alluded to cutting ties with the United States and reaching out to its geopolitical rivals.
