Agri sector wrong to reject RCEP

THE agricultural sector, represented in Senate hearings this week by the farmers' group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag), has registered strong opposition to the Philippines' ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), on the ground that free trade agreements (FTA) have "turned the Philippines into a net food-importing country." This reasoning is shortsighted, perhaps even somewhat disingenuous, and completely dismisses the net benefits that would accrue to the agricultural sector under what would be the world's largest trade zone and market.