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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: Businessmen prepare for free trade accords
5-Jan-2014 Manila Standard
The largest group of businessmen in the Philippines is preparing for new trade agreements that will enable the country to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
Taipei-Manila ECA study almost complete: envoy
9-Dec-2013 China Post
A feasibility study on signing an Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) between Taiwan and the Philippines is nearing completion, the Philippines’ top envoy to Taiwan said recently.
Possible FTA with EU raises fears for agriculture
26-Nov-2013 Business World
Further opening up the Philippine’s agriculture industry to competition with the European Union through a free trade agreement may put the sector at risk, according to the head of the non-government organization IBON Foundation, Inc.
Philippines to pursue two FTAs in Europe
3-Nov-2013
The Government is sending a team to Europe later this month for talks about possible free trade agreements (FTA) with two European blocs, a Trade official said last week. "We will be sending a delegation to Europe third or fourth week of November to continue technical discussions on a possible Philippines-EU (European Union) FTA in Brussels and Philippines-EFTA (European Free Trade Association) FTA in Geneva," Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. told reporters last week.
Philippines, 4 northern European countries eye free trade deal
30-Sep-2013 InterAksyon
The Philippines and four countries in Europe that are not part of the European Union are eyeing a free trade deal, the Department of Trade and Industry said.
Free trade with Switzerland seen
28-Jun-2013 BusinessWorld
A possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and Switzerland may push through as the two countries are set to sign a separate agreement creating a commission to lower tariffs and increase trade.
PHL studying FTA possibility with Taiwan for agri exports
27-Jan-2013
The Philippines is conducting a feasibility study for a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan that would allow the export of farm products to the Taiwanese market.
Full-blown RP-Taiwan FTA mulled
21-Jan-2013 Manila Bulletin
A full-blown free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and Taiwan is being explored abandoning an earlier proposal to create a special economic corridor that would include only Subic and Clark freeport zones and Kaohsiung.
Time for an EU-PHL free trade deal — ECCP
21-Dec-2012
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) on Thursday said it is committed to support a Philippine-European Union free trade agreement, which it expects to possibly come about in the next three years.
Robust growth keeps PH on track to AEC 2015
23-Oct-2012 Rappler
In an interview with Rappler before the October 23 forum on ASEAN 2015, ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Dr. Lim Hong Hin said the Philippines’ progress in meeting the agreements under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) has been significant.