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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


Philippines risks being left behind in free trade with Europe — think tank
A private sector think tank yesterday pressed the Trade department to move faster on a free trade pact with the European Union (EU), citing research which points to gains awaiting several Philippine industries.
RP bizmen urging government to start bilateral talks with EU for FTA
Filipino businessmen are asking the government to take the initiative in starting the bilateral talks between the Philippines and the European Union (EU) for a free-trade agreement (FTA) after a study made by a think tank showed that the country will benefit immensely from it.
RP, European officials meet to fine-tune framework pact
Officials representing the Philippines and European Union will meet today to discuss a revised draft of a framework agreement that will govern the two economies’ relations which will pave the way for a free trade deal.
RP seeks slower tariff reduction for rice under Afta
The Philippines is now negotiating for a slower reduction in tariffs for rice traded under a free-trade scheme among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
US businessmen perceive RP a ‘protectionist’ market
"When the USTR tried to have discussion with the Philippines on TIFA (Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement) not much happened there because there is a perception that the Philippines is a protectionist and not really interested in opening up and that makes it so difficult," says the US Chamber of Commerce.
Development coherence in trade governance: Key to the rebuilding of the global economy
The global crisis has one positive and liberating aspect—policymakers and even once-arrogant neoliberal economists are now openly questioning the wisdom of untrammeled liberalization. The present global recession has abundantly shown that liberalizing the financial and other economic sectors wholesale sans rules is a formula for disaster, be it applied in a developed market economy like the United States or in a small developing economy like Haiti.
Benguet farmers alerted on trade pacts
Associations of farmers and local government units in this vegetable-producing province and local governments were alerted on reports that the national government has entered into bilateral agreements and treaties on the trading of agricultural products.
Reveal contents of RP-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, urges militant group Pamalakaya
Militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to divulge the content of the RP-European Union Partnership and Cooperation Agreement or (PCA).
Trade roller-coaster: The ups and downs in 2008 and the road ahead
It was a dizzying roller coaster-year for trade. As the multilateral trade talks faltered, bilateral and regional free trade and economic partnership agreements on the other hand surged, fueled mainly by the aggressive push by the most powerful economies - the US, EU, Japan and China - of their respective brands of commercial diplomacy.
Philippine fishers warn against sectoral talks in WTO
A national coalition of 14 fisher federations in the Philippines warned against mandatory "sectoral" talks in the World Trade Organization, saying that it would only benefit rich countries that wanted more market access for their products. On Friday, which was World Fishers Day, about 200 members of Kilusang Mangingisda also picketed the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and Asian Development Bank to protest against policies promoting fisheries trade liberalization.