MANILA, Philippines – The United States is looking at forging a trans-Pacific partnership with Asian countries including the Philippines after the proposed ASEAN-United States multilateral agreement failed to gain ground.
In an interview with The STAR, Rick Santos board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (AmCham), said they will be in Washington this week to discuss the idea with the US.
Aside from the Philippines, other countries that may be included in the partnership are Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and even Australia.
When asked about the Philippines’ relationship with the United States, Santos said he is confident that the new Aquino administration will be able to work well with America.
The ASEAN-US free trade agreement (FTA) did not push through because of problems with Myanmar. “I am pretty sure that the transpacific partnership will not include Burma.”
The Philippines has been forging FTAs with other countries to attract more investments and foster better trading relations.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the bilateral agreement between the United States and the Philippines did not prosper because the Philippines is not as open to trade liberalization like Singapore.
However, in an attempt to strengthen trading partnership with the US the Philippines together with other ASEAN member countries are embarking on a roadshow. For the first time ASEAN economic ministers will have a trade and investment roadshow in the US.
“As far as the US is concerned, the Philippines has to make a case. It needs to show the US where it wants to go as far as trade liberalization is concerned,” Trade Senior Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino told reporters.
Aquino said, this is a challenge for the new administration – to study whether or not it wants to pursue a bilateral agreement with the US.
The US administration under former President George Bush had very little engagement with ASEAN. The Philippines is a member of the ASEAN. Given the change in government, Aquino said it is up to the ASEAN to show that “we are an interesting group of countries to trade with.”
The US has been hesitant to form a multilateral agreement with the ASEAN because of Myanmar. This is also the reason why the agreement between the ASEAN and the European Union did not push through. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)
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!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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