SEEKING TO further open its doors to more international trade, the Philippines has expressed interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a multilateral free trade deal that involves several economies, including the country’s biggest trading partner, the United States.
In a speech before members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Wednesday evening, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said it was now common practice among economies to participate in multilateral trade pacts.
“You have to be part of every trade agreement because to be excluded is a disadvantage for you. We’re not yet part of [the TPP], but at some point, I think it is our desire to join as well,” he said.
Apart from the United States, current participants in the TPP include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
The previous administration was not keen on participating in this particular pact.
The TPP agreement was signed in 2005 and had only three countries as members: Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. The US joined the group in 2008.
The aim of the free trade agreement is to bring all tariffs down to zero by 2015. The coverage of the deal spans trade in goods and services, rules of origin, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers, intellectual property, government procurement and competition policy.
“We will be very vigilant in joining various trade agreements. We’ll try to join as many trade agreements as possible, but still keeping in mind that our interest is really to protect the interest of Philippine businesses and Philippine consumers,” Domingo said.
The country is a participant to various bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, including the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, and the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement. –Abigail L. Ho, Philippine Daily Inquirer
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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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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