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Philippines

Philippine fishers warn against sectoral talks in WTO
24-Nov-2008
A national coalition of 14 fisher federations in the Philippines warned against mandatory "sectoral" talks in the World Trade Organization, saying that it would only benefit rich countries that wanted more market access for their products. On Friday, which was World Fishers Day, about 200 members of Kilusang Mangingisda also picketed the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture and Asian Development Bank to protest against policies promoting fisheries trade liberalization.
Anatomy of a (bad) trade deal: How the Philippine government negotiated the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA)
21-Nov-2008
Dissects the process by which JPEPA was negotiated by the Philippine government
RP nurses given options to work in Japan as JPEPA takes effect on December 11
13-Nov-2008
The Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) will be in force from December 11 this year, with the swapping last Friday of a diplomatic note between Manila and Tokyo for its implementation.
JPEPA to take effect December 11
11-Nov-2008 ABS-CBN
Japan and the Philippines exchanged diplomatic notes Friday in Manila to implement a free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two sides in 2006, setting December 11 as the date it will enter into force.
Pitfalls in implementing tax treaties
5-Nov-2008
The recent ratification of the Japan-Philippines Partnership Economic Agreement, or JPEPA, and the modified RP-Japan tax treaty by the Philippine Senate has once again focused attention on these international agreements which grant reciprocal tax concessions to the contracting parties.
Palace rushes EO on tariff changes sought by Jpepa
28-Oct-2008
Malacanang is rushing to issue before November 9 an executive order that will implement the tariff modifications required under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
Chilean govt open to forging free-trade agreement with RP
22-Oct-2008
The government of Chile is open to forging some form of free-trade pact with the Philippines, seeing that Asian countries, most especially those in the Asean, would be among the major global economic growth drivers in the next few years.
Int’l signature drive vs Jpepa launched in Bangkok
15-Oct-2008 GMA News
An international signature drive has been launched in Bangkok, Thailand asking the Philippine Senate to recall the ratification of the controversial Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
Int’l signature drive vs Jpepa launched in Bangkok
13-Oct-2008
An international signature drive has been launched in Bangkok, Thailand asking the Philippine Senate to recall the ratification of the controversial Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
Supreme Court asked to nullify JPEPA
13-Oct-2008 PDI
The Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party and eight other organizations asked the Supreme Court on Monday to prevent the implementation of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) that the Senate ratified last week.
Talks on RP-EU cooperation deal to start next year
13-Oct-2008 BusinessWorld
The Philippines and the European Union have agreed to start formal talks in February for a political cooperation agreement (PCA) that will govern political and economic relations and lead to an EU-ASEAN free trade deal. Human rights, intellectual property rights and climate change will be among the areas covered by the agreement.
Jpepa paves way for more unequal treaties - group
11-Oct-2008
Activists from various organizations under the NO DEAL! Movement on Friday warned that the recently recently ratified Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) would set the precedent for more unequal economic agreements for the Philippines.
Senators clash over JPEPA
11-Oct-2008
Senators on Thursday alternately praised and criticized the recently ratified Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement for removing tariffs on 95 percent of Philippine exports to Japan while allegedly violating Philippine laws on foreign ownership of local businesses.
Filipino group assails JPEPA
11-Oct-2008
The Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) reiterated today its warning that the ratification of Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) had institutionalized abuses against Filipino health personnel.
EU-Asean meeting to tackle trade barriers
11-Oct-2008 Business Mirror
The Philippines has expressed serious concerns on the proposed PCA because it requires commitment to sign the Rome Statute. Manila has not ratified the statute owing to concerns of military and police authorities they may face possible harassment suits from rights groups at the ICC.
JPEPA ratification puts RP in more danger vs global crisis
9-Oct-2008
Bilateral deals like JPEPA enables beleaguered countries like Japan to pass their crisis to other economies in the region through more liberalization.
JPEPA: The Romulo-Koumora exchange of notes
9-Oct-2008 PhilStar
The basic norm of international law is that a party to a treaty cannot invoke its internal law, including its Constitution, as a justification for failure to perform its obligation under the treaty. Therefore, JPEPA will prevail over the Philippine Constitution.
RP-Japan free trade pact approved
9-Oct-2008 Business World
The Philippine Senate finally gave its concurrence to the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), heeding to Palace appeals for the approval of the country’s first-ever bilateral free trade deal before the congressional break.
By railroading JPEPA, Senate has compromised the country’s sovereignty and patrimony
9-Oct-2008 Bayan
Today is a dark day for the Philippines’ sovereignty and patrimony but we vow to continue our struggle against the JPEPA, say the NO DEAL! Movement and Bayan. We will use all available means — from mass protests to the Supreme Court — to stop its implementation.
Asean free trade concerns still bug RP pharmas
28-Sep-2008 PDI
Fearful fo the ongoing to realize a single market for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by 2015, Filipino-owned pharmaceutical firms have asked the government to ensure that safety nets are in place for the local industry. Some are more concerned about the India-ASEAN FTA.