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Philippines

Fewer jobs for Taiwan OFWs sans RP trade pact
12-Feb-2010 GMA News
Taiwan-based factories employing Filipinos may move operations to mainland China once the trade pact between China and Taiwan is signed. The Philippines should therefore sign an FTA with Taiwan to tap into the Beijing-Taipei deal, some argue.
Issues reduced but RP-EU talks still unfinished
9-Feb-2010 BusinessWorld
Negotiators of the Partnership Cooperation Agreement, who met for a fourth time last week, had nothing to report about the controversial matter of human rights
Manila government unprepared for tuna ban
3-Feb-2010 UPI Asia
The tuna ban is not meant to preserve tuna stocks in West and Central Pacific, but to dislodge fishing companies from Third World countries from their tuna fishing grounds and allow the tuna fleets of the European Union and Japan to take over these tuna-rich fishing areas.
EU pushes bilateral trade pact
20-Jan-2010 BusinessWorld
"The Philippines has not so far signaled its readiness to engage in this way," EU Ambassador Alistair MacDonald said, referring to plans to forge bilateral trade pacts after attempts to broker a broader agreement with the 10-member ASEAN hit a roadblock early last year.
EU pushes bilateral trade pact
19-Jan-2010
The Philippines might lose an opportunity to get first crack at negotiating a bilateral trade deal with the European Union as three Southeast Asian neighbors are already in line.
The China-Asean free trade area: Propaganda and reality
15-Jan-2010 Inquirer
The propaganda mills, especially in Beijing, have been trumpeting the FTA as bringing “mutual benefits” to China and Asean. The reality, however, is that most of the advantages will probably flow to China, writes Walden Bello.
Free-trade pacts ignore labor
13-Jan-2010 Bsuienss Mirror
Recruitment agencies caution the Philippine government in signing free-trade agreements with developed countries because they will only result in further job losses for local workers
RP elections cast cloud on trade pact
14-Dec-2009 Business Mirror
Philippine elections pose uncertainty in the regional tariff regime, with neighbors wondering whether the new government next year can live up to its free-trade commitments with member-countrie
Auto workers slam DTI on JPEPA auto tariff talks delay
30-Nov-2009 Manila Bulletin
A group of 75,000 automotive industry workers has slammed the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry for lack of earnest efforts to negotiate a delay in the tariff elimination of imported vehicles under the signed Japan Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
Jpepa tariff lifting worries auto workers
25-Nov-2009 Business Mirror
The “horrors” of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) continue to haunt the country.
RP: no tariff lifting sans investment
22-Nov-2009
The Philippines is likely to suspend its tariff-elimination commitments for Japanese vehicles and auto parts under the two countries’ economic partnership agreement starting in January, as the government still needs to determine if the “increased investment” that Japan promised has indeed come in already.
Philippines risks being left behind in free trade with Europe — think tank
17-Nov-2009
A private sector think tank yesterday pressed the Trade department to move faster on a free trade pact with the European Union (EU), citing research which points to gains awaiting several Philippine industries.
RP bizmen urging government to start bilateral talks with EU for FTA
17-Nov-2009
Filipino businessmen are asking the government to take the initiative in starting the bilateral talks between the Philippines and the European Union (EU) for a free-trade agreement (FTA) after a study made by a think tank showed that the country will benefit immensely from it.
Thailand’s demand to cut RP rice tariffs amid calamity insensitive, highlights dangers of free trade deals
26-Oct-2009 IBON Foundation
Research group IBON called insensitive the Thai government’s demand to cut import tariffs on rice, especially since the country is still reeling from the recent typhoon disasters and its food security is threatened. It also highlights the dangers of entering into free trade agreements, which leaves the country no room to maneuver its policies on agriculture and industries.
EU-RP partnership deal will take 2 years - MacDonald
15-Oct-2009 GMA News
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the European Union, a prerequisite for an FTA, might take two years before being realized, an official said Wednesday.
RP, European officials meet to fine-tune framework pact
5-Oct-2009
Officials representing the Philippines and European Union will meet today to discuss a revised draft of a framework agreement that will govern the two economies’ relations which will pave the way for a free trade deal.
RP seeks slower tariff reduction for rice under Afta
14-Sep-2009
The Philippines is now negotiating for a slower reduction in tariffs for rice traded under a free-trade scheme among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
Group asks SC anew to junk JPEPA
14-Sep-2009
A group led by former Vice-President Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr. and former Senate president Jovito R. Salonga has asked the Supreme Court (SC) anew to quash the trade agreement with Japan.
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.