INT’L PARTNERSHIPS.ย Trade Secretary Cristina Roque delivers her speech at the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum in the House of Representatives on Feb. 4, 2025. Also in the photo is Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum chairperson and former US Congressman Robert Pittenger.ย (Photo courtesy of DTI)
The Philippines sees its expanding international collaborations, as part of its policies to strengthen trade partnerships, will attract more long-term investments and further hike its export revenues.
Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque made this statement at the recent Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum where she stressed the Philippinesโ strategic role in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The Indo-Pacific is the engine of the global economy, contributing 60% of the global GDP (gross domestic product) and over 80% of the global merchandise trade. The Philippines, with its strategic location and dynamic economy, is poised to shape the regionโs economic landscape,โ Roque confidently said.
โWe are not merely participants in this transformation โ we are leading the charge,โ she stressed, adding that the Philippines has been actively engaging in multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the United States-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
The Philippines continues to negotiate bilateral FTAs with the United Arab Emirates, European Union and Chile.
โOur engagement in mechanisms like the IPEF reflects our commitment to pursue bilateral trade and overall economic interests with the United States and other partner countries. It supports strategic collaboration in priority sectors, including energy and energy transition, climate change mitigation and resiliency, good governance, supply chains, and critical minerals,โ she said.
Roque expressed optimism on positive developments in the US-Philippines Partnership Act filed in the US Congress that will pursue collaborations between Washington D.C. and Manila in sectors of critical minerals, mining, fossil fuels, and infrastructure.
โWith the renewed interest under the Trump administration, we are optimistic about negotiating a next-generation trade agreement that will not only expand market access, but also ensures the highest standards of labor rights, social inclusivity and environmental protection,โ she stressed.(With PNA)
