by Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan, Business World, Nov 19, 2018
THE PHILIPPINES is exploring bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with two more countries, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said, adding that the talks are preliminary and exploratory.
“We are in exploratory talks with two other bilaterals,” NEDA Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of a forum organized by the Center for Philippine Futuristics Studies and Management, Inc. on Friday.
She declined to provide details as talks are still in their early stages. The Trade department has also yet to respond to requests for comment.
“I cannot divulge details, the talks are still confidential. (But) we are opening up, we want to diversify our markets,” Ms. Edillon said.
There are currently no multilateral agreements in which the Philippines is involved indirectly with the two countries, she added.
Aside from the two unidentified countries, the Philippines is currently in negotiations for an FTA with the European Union.
“We are currently negotiating an FTA with the EU. We already have the GSP+ with them but we want more a binding agreement,” she said, describing the current arrangements as “conditional in so many things.”
She was referring to the generalized system of preferences plus (GSP+) privileges granted by the EU to developing countries, which is subject to periodic review to evaluate the beneficiaries’ adherence to various labor and human rights standards laid out by Brussels.
The Philippines is also in the advanced stages of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) FTA along with Asia-Pacific states, which hope to wrap up talks in 2019.
The Philippines is also looking at the possibility of a free trade agreement with the US, after the two parties strengthened their bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) last month.
Ms. Edillon also noted that the country is currently reviewing and renegotiating the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement FTA.
The Philippines has bilateral free trade deals with Japan and the European Free Trade Association.
It also has multilateral FTAs with the ASEAN, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Korea. —
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
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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Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
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Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
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March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
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