• Philippine-US Free trade agreement

It came as a surprise that during a visit to the Philippines in November 2017, President Trump announced that he and President Duterte have agreed to negotiate an FTA. Given the current global trade environment rising protectionism and the US-China trade war, it would seem that the Philippines would benefit from such an arrangement by giving it a competitive leg up on its competitors

• Japan pledges assistance for Subic Bay master plan

Japan has pledged to extend technical assistance for the development of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and its surrounding areas, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

• Special Economic Zones In ASEAN: An Introduction For Foreign Investors

To consolidate its emergence as a powerful trading bloc, ASEAN member states have been promoting special economic zones (SEZ) as a cornerstone for efforts to encourage more foreign investment.

However, investors looking to take advantage of SEZs in ASEAN should seek to develop a base understanding before assessing factors that may impact their business. SEZs in each country comes with their own strengths and weaknesses; investors need to understand the profile of SEZs in each country

• Senate moves to update Foreign Investment Act of 1991

The Senate opened plenary deliberations Monday on a proposed law to further promote foreign investments by updating the “Foreign Invesments Act of 1991.

• PHL sales at China expo doubles to $300 million

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the Philippine delegation’s sales to the CIIE grew more than twice to $300 million this year, from $124 million last year. The country’s best sellers at the trade show were bananas, pineapples, mangoes, durian, as well as processed fruits and nuts and coconut-based products.

• ADB: Chinese investment pledges in PH surged in ’18

The Philippines enjoyed a surge in Chinese investment pledges last year while it also benefited slightly in the area of trade amid tensions between the United States and China, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

• Palawan farmers get irrigation, post-harvest facilities

OVER P200 million worth of irrigation system and post-harvest facilities funded by the Japanese government is seen to benefit more than 1,500 farmers in the towns of Narra and Aborlan in Palawan

• PH’s trade row with Thailand unresolved

THE Philippines failed to settle its dispute with Thailand over a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on cigarette shipments during the recent Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit.