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Philippines

US businessmen perceive RP a ‘protectionist’ market
9-Sep-2009 Manila Bulletin
"When the USTR tried to have discussion with the Philippines on TIFA (Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement) not much happened there because there is a perception that the Philippines is a protectionist and not really interested in opening up and that makes it so difficult," says the US Chamber of Commerce.
Japan goes gaga over banana diet
8-Sep-2009 Antara
More than 90 percent of Japan’s banana import comes from the Philippines, where Sumitomo Corp. has been operating for 40 years. Sumitomo’s profit quadrupled to Y 1.7 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, boosted by the morning banana diet.
Development coherence in trade governance: Key to the rebuilding of the global economy
7-Sep-2009
The global crisis has one positive and liberating aspect—policymakers and even once-arrogant neoliberal economists are now openly questioning the wisdom of untrammeled liberalization. The present global recession has abundantly shown that liberalizing the financial and other economic sectors wholesale sans rules is a formula for disaster, be it applied in a developed market economy like the United States or in a small developing economy like Haiti.
Canned tuna may be included in ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement
3-Sep-2009 MindaNews
The European Union is reportedly open to negotiations for the possible lowering of tariffs or even granting duty-free treatment for canned tuna exports from the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations under a proposed free trade agreement with the 10-nation regional bloc.
Importers using JPEPA to cheat gov’t
11-Aug-2009 PDI
Importers and brokers have resorted to using a controversial trade agreement between the Philippines and Japan to avoid paying the correct amount of taxes to the government, a ranking customs official said Monday.
NGO writes PM Aso to halt Japan biodiesel project
6-Jul-2009 Business Mirror
The public believes that the 600,000 hectare biodiesel deal between the Philippines and Japan is the Jpepa in action, says Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)
Revenue loss from free trade with Australia, NZ feared
2-Jul-2009 Business World
The Philippine government could lose as much as P600 million annually in foregone revenues if tariffs on dairy products are removed under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), an industry group said yesterday.
RP set to ratify free-trade pact with Australia, New Zealand
22-Jun-2009 Business Mirror
While not part of the official AANZFTA negotiations, the Philippine government is preparing to ratify the free-trade agreement it signed as a member of ASEAN with the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
Group says Cha-cha to lift ban on 100% foreign ownership of land
19-Jun-2009 Business Mirror
Pamalakaya’s Hicap believes the EU wants the ban on foreign ownership abolished because it would soon enter into a bilateral economic agreement with the Philippine government under the EU-RP Free Trade Agreement, where one of the major provisions is the removal of the ban on foreign ownership of land.
NGOs claim the Philippine-Japan free trade agreement is unconstitutional
10-Jun-2009 ITN
A petition lodged with the Philippine Supreme Court by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) argues that the investment chapter of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) violates the Philippine constitution.
EU-Asean FTA not good for RP rice sector, says study
23-May-2009 Philippine Star
The European Union-Association of South East Asian Nations (EU-ASEAN) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) may pose difficulties for the Philippine rice sector while favoring that of Thailand.
Benguet farmers alerted on trade pacts
6-May-2009 MB
Associations of farmers and local government units in this vegetable-producing province and local governments were alerted on reports that the national government has entered into bilateral agreements and treaties on the trading of agricultural products.
1st batch of JPEPA nurses off to Japan this week
5-May-2009
The first batch of nurses and caregivers who have been hired under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) are ready to be deployed to Japan this weekend, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said Tuesday.
EU assist to improve exports to Europe
18-Apr-2009 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines will receive 6.5 million Euros to develop a strategic trade policy for both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, speed up customs procedures, cope with demanding EU regulations on technical standards and comply with the latest requirements on food safety.
US firms urge Washington to cultivate Asia-Pacific links
15-Apr-2009 BusinessWorld
The Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers is urging the Obama administration, while AmCham Philippines is lobbying the Macapagal Arroyo government, to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade area
A partnership among equals? Examining the EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
13-Apr-2009 TNI
The EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign initiated in 2007 a research project that would examine the nature and scope of EU-ASEAN Relations. The first phase of that project was the conduct of country-level studies. We have so far been able to complete studies in Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand and we expect reports from Vietnam and Malaysia very soon.
Food exporters attend Japanese trade fairs, earn millions of dollars
4-Apr-2009
Philippine food exporters were able to sell millions of dollars worth of their products after participating in a business mission and a trade fair in Japan, the country’s third-largest export market.
Reveal contents of RP-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, urges militant group Pamalakaya
3-Apr-2009
Militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to divulge the content of the RP-European Union Partnership and Cooperation Agreement or (PCA).
Global crisis puts Jpepa to test
15-Feb-2009
The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) would be put to a test under the current global financial turmoil and recession.
EU is in no rush to wrap up partnership agreement with RP
15-Feb-2009
The European Union (EU) will not rush negotiations for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the Philippines as it is bent on reaching a “quality” agreement.