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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


PH, US renew interest in exploring free trade agreement
The US wants to involve the Philippines’ agricultural products such as rice, meat and poultry and intellectual property rights. Washington also wants the Philippines to have an open and competitive market for electronic payment (e-payment) services.
US in potential FTA with the Philippines
The US has said it looks forward to resolving outstanding issues with the Philippines and exploring the best method in which to strengthen and expand trade relations between the two countries.
USTR sees FTA with PH first step in As-Pac strategy
The US Trade Representative (USTR) has looked that having a free trade agreement with the Philippines is a reasonable first step in their strategy in the Asia Pacific region.
Statement of Trade Justice Pilipinas : Human rights should be central to EU- Philippines partnership
Trade Justice Pilipinas is alarmed over reports that the European Union is wavering on its commitment to protect and promote human rights in the context of its long-term strategic partnership with the Philippines.
Manila keeps focus on RCEP despite TPP breakthrough
Manila will continue to focus its efforts to concluding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) despite the breakthrough made by the 11 remaining negotiating countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Philippines eyes more free trade pacts
Philippines’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is conducting internal studies and consultations on a possible free trade agreement with US. Philippines also hopes a substantial conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and a renegotiation with Japan.
Duterte ratifies PH-EFTA FTA
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Senate for concurrence his ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between the Philippines and four of the world’s wealthiest states under EFTA (European Free Trade Association).
Follow-up talks on PH-US free trade held in Washington
A wide-ranging meeting held November 29 between trade representatives of the Philippines and the United States covered economic issues including a bilateral free trade agreement.
Rising US, China protectionism: Philippines still on losing end
As the world financial crisis persists, developed countries like the United States and China are taking increasingly protectionist stances while they are also aggressively pursuing further liberalization of less developed countries.
PHL, US set to start talks on trade deal this month
Manila is sending a mission to Washington later this month to begin preliminary talks on the US-Philippines free-trade agreement.