The Philippines should immediately pursue a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), as the country lags behind most of its Southeast Asian neighbors in negotiating for similar agreements, a think-tank of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said. “Philippine business cannot continue losing out on trade and investment opportunities with EU, especially when projections indicate substantial Philippine gains from an FTA are forthcoming,” the Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade (U-ACT) said in a paper titled “Merits to Philippine Business of Having a Bilateral Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).”
“Philippine business must consider the danger of being crowded out of the EU and other markets by the more preferential access of its competitors, given their greater number of concluded FTAs and ongoing FTA initiatives,” U-ACT said.
According to the think tank, Indonesia has already signed a partnership and cooperation agreement with EU in July while Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are on advance stages of negotiations. Brunei and Malaysia also would soon start talks with EU.
“EU might no longer be interested in engaging the Philippines if one country has already signed with them with the same market as ours,” Donald Dee, U-ACT chairman and chief executive, said.
In addition, the Philippines should also not wait for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to seal a deal for the whole region since Asean-EU FTA talks were stalled in May because of Myanmar’s poor human rights record.
But Gabriel Munuera Viñals, European Commission delegation to the Philippines head of political, economic trade and public affairs section, earlier said the Philippines and EU are “not yet on each others’ radars” in terms of trade and investments since the Philippines lacks enthusiasm in engaging EU for talks.
U-ACT’s study also said that through a possible FTA with EU, European firms in the country would be “encouraged to expand their business and [infuse] more investments in the country.” –Ben Arnold O. de Vera, Manila Times
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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