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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


Clinton to launch US, PHL partnership on trade, investments
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting the Philippines on Tuesday to initiate the Obama administration’s Partnership for Growth (PFG) program for devising measures to facilitate trade and investments in conflict, poverty and graft stricken countries
FTAs propel coconut exports growth
The Philippine coconut industry is optimistic that coconut exports are bound to grow further in markets where the Philippines has free trade agreements (FTAs) with, the industry association said.
Philippines prepares for regional economic integration by ’15
The Philippines will be focusing on beefing up regulatory reforms in various sectors, in preparation for integration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.
FTA with Korea, Taiwan urged to boost auto sector
Free-Trade agreements with South Korea and Taiwan. This is what the State-owned think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) is urging the government to forge in order to help boost the local automotive industry.
Customs misses 1st-half target by 8.6%
The Bureau of Customs on Wednesday said its collections in the first six months were 8.6-percent below target due to a strong peso and partly as a result of slower imports following Japan’s twin disasters in March.
PIDS tapped to do impact study on free trade agreements
The Department of Trade and Industry has tapped the Philippine Institute for Development Studies to evaluate how the country has benefited so far from the various trade agreements entered into by the government, both bilateral and through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
BoC seeking help from China
Determined to get to the bottom on the use of fake Free Trade Agreement (FTA) certificates that has defrauded government of billions of pesos in taxes, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) has sought the help of its Chinese counterpart to expose the modus operandi.
DTI to hold info drive on free trade deals
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be holding an information campaign on free trade agreements (FTA) among specific sectors to encourage exporters to maximize trade opportunities in these markets.
Tariff cuts on Chinese, Korean vehicles pushed
Vehicle importers are urging the government to implement the scheduled tariff cuts under the Asean free trade agreements (FTAs) with China and Korea.
Deal with EU hits snag in the United Kingdom
The signing of the framework deal with the European Union (EU), a prerequisite for a free trade agreement, has hit a snag given the United Kingdom’s questions as to whether some cooperation activities can be implemented.