• Foreign Investments Act changes secure House 2nd reading-OK

Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) said passage of a Duterte administration priority measure amending the Republic Act 7042 or the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) of 1991 to exclude the “practice of professions” from the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL) can mean more jobs for Filipinos.

• DTI collabs with EMB to enhance bilateral trade

The DTI-EMB continues its active engagement with the Philippines’s South Asian neighbors, particularly in India. The said country is among the fastest-growing major economies in the world and is expected to become the third-largest consumer economy by 2025. Aside from being one of the most inhabited nations, India’s favorable demographics make it an ideal trading partner—an increasing young population, expanding middle-class and rising income levels.

• Asia’s Multilateral Balancing Act

After World War II, Asia emerged from years of conflict and centuries of colonialism. The United States quickly became the main guarantor of regional security, signing bilateral defense treaties and establishing preferential trade and investment relationships with its Asian allies – in particular the Philippines, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Pakistan. In the decades since, Asia has reaped substantial development gains from open trade, investment, and multilateral cooperation, enabling the region to become a leading global trade hub.

• House OKs bill promoting entry of foreign direct investments

The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third reading a priority measure amending Republic Act 7042, or the Foreign Investments Act (FIA) of 1991, to exclude the “practice of professions” on the Foreign Investment Negative List

• PH set to resume export of poultry products to SoKor

Korea is set to conduct an onsite inspection and accreditation of new poultry manufacturing facilities in the Philippines following the resumption of chicken exports to South Korea.

• DoF formally proposes to liberalize sugar imports

THE finance department has formally proposed import liberalization for the sugar industry modeled on the opening up of the rice market, signaling a showdown for another key commodity as economic managers sought to make prices more competitive.

• Duterte OKs proposals to cut trade war impact

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendations of trade and economic officials to curb the negative effects of the trade dispute between the United States and China, Malacañang said on Thursday.