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Philippines

The Philippines signed its first bilateral FTA with Japan in 2006 and is presently party to the ASEAN FTA processes (China, India, Korea, Japan and Australia/New Zealand). The Philippine government has been trying to get Washington to offer an FTA, while those of New Zealand and Chile are apparently in favour of a bilateral deal with Manila. The Philippine government wants to join the TPP, and is engaged in efforts to lay the groundwork for negotiations with the EU for a possible FTA.

last update: May 2012
Photo: Michel Cermak/Twitter


No benefit from free trade deals - PIDS
Policymakers should realize that free trade agreements (FTAs) are neither necessary nor sufficient for economic growth, Dr. Josef Yap, president of the government think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said in a study.
RP, US seen moving close to FTA
The United States government is intensifying its economic relationship with the Philippines through the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) as the two countries work on starting negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).
US wants comprehensive RP trade deal
The Philippine exploratory mission to the US on the proposed specific preferential trading for the garment sector was met with cold treatment as top level government officials, Congress representatives and its private sector still prefer a comprehensive free trade area (FTA) agreement.
New Zealand offers free trade agreement
New Zealand has offered to sign a free trade agreement with the Philippines to boost bilateral relations, an official said yesterday.
’No strong case for RP-US free trade pact’
The conclusion of a Philippines-US free trade agreement (FTA) will drastically impact on the country’s agriculture because it is labor intensive and employs large number of people, according to a recent paper published by De La Salle University experts.
Philippines: Exporters press free trade pacts
Exporters are pressing the government to pursue bilateral free trade arrangements to enable them to benefit from liberalization instead of waiting until 2013 for developed countries to lift their subsidies on agricultural exports.
Filipino solons to probe 35 unratified bilateral agreements
Philippine House Committees on globalization and trade will study 35 bilateral agreements the Philippines forged over the past decades with some countries.
RP, Korea finalizing free trade agreement
The Philippines and South Korea are drafting a framework of agreement for the proposed free trade area in time for the visit of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to the Philippines in December this year.
Veggie industry faces bleak future
The Fair Trade Alliance blames the Philippine government’s trade commitments to the General Agreement on Tariffs Trade, the World Trade Organization and bilateral trade pacts for the problems facing the domestic vegetable industry.
Taiwan and Philippines to benefit from FTA, TIER president says
Taiwan and the Philippines can benefit from a free trade agreement that is currently being negotiated by both countries, as it would help boost two-way trade and encourage more investments from the Taiwanese, said David Hong, president of Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), yesterday.