Free Trade Agreements

Louella Desiderio – The Philippine Star  January 28, 2022 | 12:00am The STAR / Paolo Romero MANILA, Philippines — The Federation of Philippine Industries Inc. (FPI) is supporting calls for the Senate to immediately approve the country’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

Industries have differing views on RCEP By …- January 24, 2022 By JED MACAPAGAL and IRMA ISIP, Malaya Industries and business groups have banded to lobby for the concurrence by the Senate to the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, saying they will miss out on opportunities if the Philippines does not…

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by Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star), 27 Jan 2020 MANILA, Philippines —The European Union (EU) has removed the Philippines in its list of countries with weak intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement.

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by Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) – Jul 12, 2019 MANILA, Philippines — The next round of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines would take place when the conditions are right as the country’s implementation of conventions on human rights, labor rights, environment as well as good governance are seen by…

‘Right conditions’ necessary for next round of EU-Phl FTA talks Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star) – July 12, 2019 – 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The next round of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Philippines would take place when the conditions are right as the country’s implementation of conventions on human rights,…

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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.

By Richmond Mercurio (The Philippine Star), Jul 31, 2017 MANILA, Philippines – Negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and the US may not be happening anytime soon, the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said.

by Danica M. Uy, Businessworld, Feb 27, 2017 THE GOVERNMENT’S representatives will be meeting with delegates from the European Union (EU) in September for the second round of free trade agreement (FTA) talks.

by Richmond Mercurio, The Philippine Star, Oct. 16, 2016 Read the article here.

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI, THE NATION, June 27, 2016, http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Asean-to-press-RCEP-to-cut-tariffs-on-92-of-goods-30289152.html ASEAN countries will propose to the 16 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to eliminate tariffs on 92 per cent of trade in goods to promote economic integration of the grouping soon.

by Pia Lee Brago, Philstar, May 8, 2016 The Philippines has signed a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) composed of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. signed the agreement with EFTA states on April 28 in Berne, Switzerland.

The Philippines and the European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday that they have agreed to start formal negotiations for a free-trade agreement (FTA), three years after laying down the foundation for it. Outgoing Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo and EU Trade Commissioner Anna Cecilia Malmström said they “share the ambition” to conclude an FTA that covers…

Highlights of agreements and bilateral meetings [Signed and conducted on the margins of the 2015 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting] As of 25 November 2015 ASIA-PACIFIC Australia AGREEMENTS SIGNED JOINT DECLARATION ON A PHILIPPINES-AUSTRALIA COMPREHENSIVE PARTNERSHIP The Joint Declaration on the Philippines-Australia Comprehensive Partnership acknowledges the increasing breadth and depth of our relations setting the tone,…

BOOST TRADE, INVESTMENTS WITH 28-MEMBER BLOC THE PHILIPPINES is hoping to start by early next year the formal negotiations with the European Union on a free-trade agreement (FTA), a move that will dovetail with the country’s aggressive thrust toward further solidifying its ties with Europe.

The Philippines is making significant strides in its pursuit of free trade agreements (FTA) with Europe as several major developments are seen happening before the current administration steps down from office next year.

Despite a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) secured by the country to date, less than half of Philippine firms are aware and actually utilize the benefits of such deals, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

World Leaders React to Trade Agreement ATLANTA — The United States, Japan and 10 other Pacific Rim nations on Monday reached final agreement on the largest regional trade accord in history, teeing up what could be the toughest fight President Obama will face in his final year in office: securing approval from Congress.

THE Philippines and Canada have signed several bilateral agreements, including the launch of exploratory discussions towards a possible free trade agreement between the two countries, Malacanang said Saturday. President Benigno Aquino III and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper witnessed the signing of the agreements on trade, development assistance, and occupational health and safety, during the…

MANILA, Philippines – The European Union (EU) is pursuing discussions with the Philippines within the year for a possible free trade agreement (FTA) as the country’s ongoing economic reform process shows readiness to commit to an ambitious bilateral deal.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is hoping to complete a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) within four to five years to be able to allow greater access for exports to the bloc even after it graduates as a beneficiary of Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the Department of Trade and…

The UN’s trade body has joined a chorus of criticism of globalisation, warning that developing countries reap little value from taking part in global supply chains and that the costs of joining free-trade agreements may outweigh the gains.

MANILA, Philippines–If integration of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is not in President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address on Monday, it should be.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) aim to start negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) by early next year and complete the deal by 2017, a trade official said.

OTTAWA/TOKYO: Pacific trade talks have reached broad agreement on labour issues and sanitary and phytosanitary standards but some difficult aspects remain to be tackled, Japan’s chief negotiator said on Saturday.

The Philippines and the four member states of the European Free Trade Association (Efta) signed in Iceland last week the Joint Declaration on Cooperation (JDC), which allowed both parties to further enhance their bilateral economic relations, including through the establishment of a Joint Efta-Philippines Committee. These four countries are Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. According…