Philippines Major Trade Agreements

For EFTA Philippine Trade Statistics, see EFTA Trade Statistics Tool ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement The 2010 ASEAN Trade Agreement (ATIGA) consolidates all obligations of the Common Free Trade Area of Tariff and Free Trade With ASEAN (CEPT/AFTA) for trade in goods. It aims to create an internal market and a production base with the free movement of goods in the ASEAN region, an important part of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). ATIGA includes tariff liberalization, initiatives to facilitate trade, simplification of rules of origin and the creation of an ASEAN trade register. Visit investasean.asean.org/ for up-to-date information on ASEAN trade. Intellectual property protection provisions (Chapter 8 and Appendix XVIII) include trademarks, copyrights, patents and geographical indications, and include provisions for respect for intellectual property rights and cooperation between the parties. These provisions are based on the WTO agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) and provide for a high level of protection, taking into account the principles of the most favoured nation and national treatment. Ensuring better access for EU exporters to the dynamic ASEAN market is an EU priority. Negotiations for a trade and investment agreement between the region and ASEAN began in 2007 and were interrupted by mutual agreement in 2009 to relax a bilateral negotiating format. A Sustainable Impact Assessment (AIS) has been carried out to support negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Philippines. The ASA will assess the potential impact of trade and trade provisions on economic, social, human rights and environmental elements in any trading partner and in other countries in a future free trade agreement. Other ASEAN free trade agreements have concluded a preferential agreement with China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Visit www.dti.gov.ph/15-main-content/dummy-article/682-free-trade-agreements and tariffcommission.gov.ph/finder/ for a list of Philippine trade agreements and tariff plans and related commitments. More information on trade is also available on the Philippine National Trade Repository website pntr.gov.ph/.

The Philippines has been a member of the WTO since 1995 and enjoys enhanced trade preferences with the EU under the EU Plus Generalised Preference System (GSP). The parties recognize that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent.