Philippines
The Philippines signed its first bilateral FTA with Japan in 2006 and is presently party to the ASEAN FTA processes (China, India, Korea, Japan and Australia/New Zealand). The Philippine government has been trying to get Washington to offer an FTA, while those of New Zealand and Chile are apparently in favour of a bilateral deal with Manila. The Philippine government wants to join the TPP, and is engaged in efforts to lay the groundwork for negotiations with the EU for a possible FTA.
last update: May 2012
Articles
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17-Jul-2017 Philippines Star Philippines eyes free trade agreement with US
The Philippines is looking to take its bilateral relations with the US a notch higher as it eyes to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with the world’s largest economy. -
12-Jun-2017 Interaksyon Swiss envoy urges PH to ratify free trade deal with EFTA
Swiss Ambassador Andrea Reichlin has urged the Philippines to ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order for the deal to become enforceable. -
26-Apr-2017 Business Mirror PHL not in a hurry to ink FTA with US
"We’re comfortable and happy with the generalized system of preferences. If ever there are initiatives to work on an FTA, we’ll be open to that, but we won’t be bringing it up," says Philippines Trade Secretary. -
21-Apr-2017 Malaya PH eyes more FTA deals
Asean where the Philippines is part mulls free trade agreements with Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, the European Union as well as the Eurasian Economic Union. -
1-Mar-2017 Business World US refocuses on bilateral trade deals — ambassador
With the United States looking to drop the Trans Pacific Partnership trade scheme, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said Washington will be leaning towards bilateral free trade agreements. -
23-Feb-2017 Manila Times US business pushes for bilateral trade pact between Manila, Washington
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines seemed to have taken the cudgels for the Philippine government by pushing for a bilateral free trade agreement with the United States. -
7-Feb-2017 Manila Bulletin PH to explore FTA with US
The Philippines will explore a bilateral free trade agreement with the US even as it will prioritize completion and implementation of existing and ongoing trade deals. -
9-Jan-2017 The Manila Times PH, EFTA fast-track preparations to ratify free trade pact
Both parties are now “undertaking their respective domestic processes for the ratification and entry into force of the agreement. -
27-Sep-2016 Inquirer PH to engage Mexico in trade talks
The Philippines is eyeing to forge a free trade agreement with Mexico to further deepen the bilateral trade and investment ties between the two countries. -
5-Sep-2016 Malaya Business Insight European car distributors seek tariff concession under FTA
European car distributors are asking the government to seek tariff concession for automotive under the planned Europe-Philippines free trade agreement (FTA). -
22-Aug-2016 Inquirer DTI pursues free trade talks with EU, Chile
The Philippines Department of Trade and Industry is aggressively pursuing free trade talks with key trading partners, including the European Union and Chile, as it seeks to follow through with the gains achieved by the last administration. -
24-May-2016 TNI Signing away sovereignty
The Philippines has a web of investment treaties which severely constrain the government’s ability to regulate or close polluting mines, a legal straitjacket that will become even tighter if the EU–Philippines Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) proceed -
29-Apr-2016 EU-ASEAN Network Midnight trade deal: Why is the Aquino government rushing a free trade deal with Europe?
Press statement of the EU-ASEAN Network on signing of Philippines-EFTA FTA -
27-Apr-2016 Malaya PH, EFTA to sign free trade pact
The Philippines and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) will sign anytime this week the free trade agreement between the two, the country’s second bilateral FTA after the one with Japan. -
16-Nov-2015 Philippines, Chile eye free trade deal
The governments of the Philippines and Chile on Monday agreed to pursue a possible free trade agreement, signing a letter of intent on a joint feasibility study. -
11-Nov-2015 Business World Online DTI consultations to help set EFTA deal agenda
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is to meet members of business groups and nongovernment institutions to discuss the state of trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). -
20-Jul-2015 Rappler PH wants agri products included in European free trade pact
The Philippines is negotiating for the inclusion of processed tropical fruits and durable fresh products as part of the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association. EFTA, in turn, wants zero tariff market access for fish. -
28-May-2015 Rappler PH eyes 3 more bilateral agreements
The Philippines plans to forge bilateral agreements with Mexico, Chile and Canada, after the countries started last week exploration talks aimed at further strengthening their trade and economic relations. -
27-May-2015 Xinhua Philippines, Peru set to engage in FTA talks
The Philippines is set to engage into free trade agreement talks with Peru, a senior government official said on Wednesday. -
16-Apr-2015 EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign Network New generation free trade agreements: A threat to life and livelihoods
Multi-sectoral network calls on Philippine government to turn back from its FTA ambitions
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Philippines Bilateral Trade Agreements programme
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RP-US FTA website (PIDS)
A website set up late 2004 by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a government agency.
Links
News from the movements
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27-Jul-2017 Intercontinental Cry
Harsh sentencing of Aymara leader reveals the politics of criminalization in Peru
This past month, eighteen Aymara community leaders endured the final stages of a trial that had them facing up to 28 years in prison and massive fines for their alleged roles in the 2011 ‘Aymarazo’ protests against the Santa Ana silver mine on the Peru-Bolivia border. -
26-Jul-2017 Scoop
Zombie actors protest TPPA at Auckland trade office
A mock zombie virus outbreak was quarantined at the offices of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade in Auckland by campaigners demanding the NZ government end efforts to resurrect the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
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26-Jul-2017 Newsclick, PSI, TNI and Focus on the global south
Video: "Can’t trade with our lives and livelihood" Hyderabad says no to RCEP
A massive protest march was organised in Hyderabad on July 24 at People’s Plaza against Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with the slogan "You can’t trade with our lives and livelihoods." The march is part of a week long activities of People’s convention against FTAs and RCEP.
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26-Jul-2017 Forum Against FTAs
“Stakeholder consultation a sham” – Boycott by people’s organizations
The People’s Resistance Forum against FTAs & RCEP calls the so-called “Stakeholder Consultation” on 25th July 2017 by the RCEP chief negotiators a sham – it is neither a meaningful consultation nor includes most stakeholders. -
25-Jul-2017 Desinformémonos
México - Anuncian movilización campesina por renegociación del TLCAN
El próximo miércoles 26 de julio se llevará a cabo una movilización para exigir que se excluya el capítulo agropecuario en la renegociación del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte (TLCAN) -
25-Jul-2017 CGT
Le JEFTA ne doit pas se faire au détriment des travailleurs et des citoyens
La CGT de France et ZENROREN du Japon expriment leur profonde inquiétude face à un processus marqué par des négociations secrètes. -
25-Jul-2017 The Hans India
Women up in arms against Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
At a rally held in Hyderabad, women from different parts of India marched along with other marginalised communities to protest the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership -
24-Jul-2017 Forum Against FTAs
People’s groups demand a halt to RCEP talks
People’s groups from across the country converged in Hyderabad from July 22-26 to unanimously reject the RCEP.
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