Gov’t wants free trade with EU bloc

The government plans to negotiate a free trade pact with the European Union despite a growing demand from local businesses to review two similar agreements already in force which are the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).

Speaking as a panelist at the 12th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus said a free trade pact between the Philippines and the European Union is not only desirable but also in order.

Lapus was responding to a direct question from Dr. Theo Sommer, editor-at-large of the German publication Die Zeit, who moderated the plenary session “The Asian Perspective” at the APK.

Dr. Rainer Brüderle, Germany’s Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, gave the introductory and concluding remarks for the plenary session.

The APK is a biennial conference of German businesses in the Asia Pacific region, which is being hosted by Singapore. Trade ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam participated as panelists as well.

Lapus said that free trade agreement negotiations between the EU and some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries are ongoing, and noted that many other neighbors of the country were also engaged with the EU in partnership cooperation agreement (PCA) negotiations, including the Philippines. The PCA will have to move on at some point in time to free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

He lauded the generally smooth implementation of Asean engagements with other countries (like China and Japan) and noted that China accounted for 17 percent of the Philippines exports, while the EU constituted 21 percent, in 2009. The experience thus far has been positive because Asean countries have been prodded to look more closely at their competitiveness and issues of good governance.

Lapus said, overall, the benefits of the AFTA have been positive, with the benefits outweighing the costs.

In any further Asean-EU FTA talks, Lapus emphasized that the two regions must compete in an open environment, and not perpetuate regional monopolies.

Lapus added that with Asean experience in FTAs, the region is in the course of stability with growth. He expressed confidence that a strong Asean makes it able to negotiate from the position of strength.

When asked by Dr. Sommer what the Philippines expected from the EU, Lapus said the Philippines would have a long list of market access issues to take up with the EU, starting with canned tuna and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

He stressed there should be mutuality in access commitments, and that negotiators should pay close attention to the objectives and aspirations of the private sector.

The plenary session tackled a wide range of issues on Asean integration, engagement with other countries, including especially China, and whether partnership, cooperation and trade with the European Union remained relevant. –Ayen Infante, Daily Tribune