Philippine Gov’t urged to reopen FTA talks with US
Manila Bulletin
11 June 2005
Gov’t urged to reopen FTA talks with US
By EDU H. LOPEZ
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has urged the government to initiate a new bilateral trade talks with the United States.
This call was made by PCCI president Donald G. Dee at the end of a daylong forum on the prospects of a Philippine-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
"We have been talking with everybody else. It is only proper that we also start talking with our top trade partner and close ally, the United States," says Dee who also sits as negotiator in all foreign trade talks as special presidential envoy on trade negotiations.
The Philippines has enjoyed robust trade with ASEAN members since it joined the regional trade bloc, the AFTA.
It is set to sign an FTA with Japan before the end of the year and is talking for similar arrangement with Korea and India AFTA members have also started enjoying growing trade with China after they accepted an early-harvest offer of goods they can sell to the Asian giant even before a formal trade alliance is hammered out.
Special Philippine-US trade relations ended last year when the last of Philippine export quota granted by the United States was phased out.
Thomas G. Travis, a leading international trade expert from the US likewise urged the Philippine government to get the negotiation ball rolling or it will miss the opportunity to enjoy its many benefits.
"You must build on Philippine-US special relations," he advised, claiming that Americans have a special positive view of the Philippines.
Besides, both countries already have a strong commercial relationship.
Tapped as a resource speaker by the PCCI, Travis saw that Philippine businesses, particularly in the farm and service sectors, stand to benefit most under an RP-US FTA.
If it does not start negotiating soon, other ASEAN countries that have been negotiating with the US, may get those bounties first.
Thailand, which exports to the US a wide variety of products in competition with Philippine goods, is in FTA negotiations with the US while Singapore and Australia already have agreements with the economic powerhouse.
He told local businessmen that if negotiations start soon enough, a pact can be signed within one year.
