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  1. Negotiations

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

Philippines pursues free trade talks with European bloc
2-Jul-2014 BusinessWorld
Tthe Philippines and EFTA member countries — Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway — signed last June 23 a joint declaration of cooperation that paves the way for free trade talks.
Philippines, EFTA sign deal this week to explore possible free trade accord
16-Jun-2014 InterAksyon
The Philippine government and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) will sign a Joint Declaration on Cooperation on 23 June, setting the stage for negotiations on a free trade agreement.
PHL weighs impact of possible free-trade agreement with EFTA
13-May-2014 Business Mirror
The Philippines is set to undertake a study on the impact of a free-trade agreement with a European economic bloc as the country is scheduled to sign a declaration of economic cooperation with the European Free-Trade Association ministers this June.
Business groups urge FTA with EU
23-Apr-2014
A trade pact between the Philippines and the European Union (EU) should be signed before 2016, businessmen yesterday said, else the country risk being left behind by Southeast Asian neighbors that are negotiating similar agreements.
Free trade agreements threaten access to medicine by the poor in Philippines
7-Apr-2014 Focus
Ambitious free trade agreements in the Philippines would pose serious threats to access to medicines for the poor by providing greater patent rights to pharmaceutical companies, the EU-ASEAN Campaign Network said Tuesday ahead of an international meeting of pharmaceutical companies in Manila.
Philippines: Talk deal set with EFTA
3-Apr-2014 Business World
An agreement that will spur further talks on a possible trade arrangement between the Philippines and the four-member European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is expected to be signed in June
Manila, Washington begin consultations on Philippines’ possible TPP entry
21-Mar-2014 InterAksyon
A Philippine government delegation recently met with a top official of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to explore Manila’s possible participation in a new free trade area that Washington is pushing among Asia-Pacific countries.
Asean free trade agreement with HK expected to benefit PH
6-Mar-2014 PDI
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is eyeing to forge a free trade agreement with Hong Kong, which is seen to benefit the Philippines significantly, according to Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo.
PHL sets sights on inclusive growth from free trade deals
8-Jan-2014
The government will put more teeth on initiatives, including education drives and linking small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to trade chains, to make free trade agreement (FTA) benefits trickle down to the grassroots, an official said Tuesday night.
DTI to give more lectures on FTAs
8-Jan-2014
To boost the country’s use rate of free trade agreements, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is planning to give more lectures on FTAs the Philippines is party to and tap social media to expand the program’s reach.