Philippines
Trade Policy Review: The Philippines 2012
“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of The Philippines.
Trade Policy Review: Philippines 2018
“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat a report by the government and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports main export destinations origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Philippines.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Canada, 12 and 14 June 2019
This eleventh Trade Policy Review of Canada has indeed allowed us to understand the important developments in the economic trade and investment regime of Canada over the last four years. I would like to thank the Canadian delegation headed by Ms. Kendal Hembroff Director General Trade Negotiations Global Affairs Canada for their very active participation and engagement in this exercise. I would also like to thank our discussant Ambassador Juan Carlos Gonzalez Permanent Representative of Colombia to the WTO for his remarks and insightful words that have propelled these discussions as well as the 53 delegations which took the floor during this meeting.
Preface
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.
Report by the Philippines
Despite the crisis however the Philippine economy sizzled to its highest annual GDP growth in the post Marcos era of 7.3% in 2010. GDP growth rate increased from 5.0% in 2005 up to 7.1% in 2007. Thereafter it declined to 3.7% in 2008 with the advent of the global financial crisis and recorded its lowest level at 1.1% in 2009. Behaving similarly GNP accelerated to a 7.2% growth in 2010. GNP increases ranged from 5.4% in 2005 up to 7.5% in 2007 declining to 6.4% in 2008 and also recording its lowest level at 4.0% in 2009.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Trinidad and Tobago, 22 and 24 May 2019
The fourth Trade Policy Review of Trinidad and Tobago has indeed offered us a better understanding of trade and economic developments in the country over the past seven years. I would like to thank the Trinidad and Tobago delegation led by H.E. Senator Paula Gopee-Scoon Minister of Trade and Industry for her constructive engagement throughout this Review. I would also like to thank the discussant H.E. Ambassador Michael Gaffey of Ireland for his insightful remarks and all the delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions. The more than 200 questions submitted by 15 Members and the interventions by 23 delegations underline the importance attached by WTO Members to Trinidad and Tobago’s trade and investment policies and practices.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
The Philippines economy has performed well since its third TPR in 2005 based on a relatively open trade regime. Nonetheless the economy is operating below potential due to the slow pace of reform while some of the key constraints on overall growth remain (e.g. inadequate infrastructure low investment and governance issues). Improved productivity is essential for the Philippines to compete with low-cost neighbouring economies and additional steps are needed to promote more competition improve human capital eliminate limitations on foreign investment reduce incentives and reform state-owned institutions. It is also hoped that the Government’s recently launched public-private partnerships initiative will encourage investment in major infrastructure projects.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Samoa, 10 and 12 April 2019
This third joint Review of East African Community (EAC) Member countries has provided us with a good opportunity to assess the developments in their trade policies and practices in the context of their regional integration initiatives since their previous joint Review in 2012. We now have a better understanding of their trade regimes and the challenges they are facing.
Remarques finales formulées par le Président de l’Organe d’Examen des politiques commerciales, S.E. M. Manuel A.J. Teehankee (Philippines) lors de l’Examen de la Politique Commerciale du Canada les 12 et 14 juin 2019
Ce onzième examen de la politique commerciale du Canada nous a permis de comprendre les principales évolutions du régime économique de commerce et d’investissement du Canada intervenues au cours des quatre dernières années. Je souhaite remercier la délégation canadienne dirigée par Mme Kendal Hembroff Directrice générale des négociations commerciales auprès d’Affaires mondiales Canada pour sa participation et son engagement très actifs dans le cadre de cet exercice. Je voudrais aussi remercier notre présentateur M. l’Ambassadeur Juan Carlos Gonzalez Représentant permanent de la Colombie auprès de l’OMC pour ses observations et ses interventions pertinentes qui ont nourri les discussions ainsi que les 53 délégations qui ont pris la parole au cours de la réunion.
Concluding remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Costa Rica, 18 and 20 September 2019.
This fifth Trade Policy Review of Costa Rica has allowed us to deepen our understanding of Costa Rica’s trade and investment regime since its last review in 2013. I would like to thank H.E. Mr. Duayner Salas Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica as well as Ambassador Gloria Abraham and the rest of the Costa Rican delegation for their active and constructive participation. I would also like to thank Ambassador Mikael Anzén Permanent Representative of Sweden to the WTO for his remarks as discussant which were instrumental in framing our discussions as well as to the 33 delegations that took the floor during this meeting. Costa Rica has provided comprehensive written responses to almost all of the 350 advance written questions posed by Members.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos González of Colombia at the Trade Policy Review of The Philippines, 26 and 28 March 2018
This fifth Trade Policy Review of the Philippines has offered us an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of the trade economic and investment policies of the Philippines. More than 300 questions from 22 Members were submitted to the Philippines before the meeting which underlines the importance Members attached to this Review. I would like to thank the delegation of the Philippines led by H.E. Dr. Ceferino Rodolfo Undersecretary of Trade and Industry the discussant H.E. Ambassador Stephen de Boer of Canada and the 34 delegations that took the floor for their valuable contributions to this Review.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 18 and 20 November 2019.
The first Trade Policy Review of Lao PDR has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of recent developments in and challenges to its trade economic and investment policies. Since its accession in 2013 Lao PDR’s initiatives to further integrate into the Multilateral Trading System and take advantage of the opportunities it offers have been greatly appreciated. Indeed the about 200 advance written questions submitted by 12 Members and the 23 delegations that took the floor during the first day underline the importance attached by Members to Lao PDR’s trade and investment policies and practices.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Papua New Guinea, 8 and 10 May 2019
This third Trade Policy Review of Papua New Guinea has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of recent developments in and challenges to its trade economic and investment policies. Our discussion has benefited from the active participation of the PNG delegation led by Ambassador Joshua Kalinoe as well as from the contribution of our discussant Ambassador Martins Kreitus Permanent Representative of Latvia to the WTO. I would also like to thank the 21 delegations that took the floor for their interventions.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Suriname, 11 and 13 September 2019.
The third Trade Policy Review of Suriname has offered us a good opportunity to deepen our understanding of recent developments in and challenges to its trade economic and investment policies. The more than 130 advance written questions submitted by 13 Members and the 18 delegations that took the floor during the first day underline the importance attached by Members to Suriname’s trade and investment policies and practices. The statements questions and replies voiced in the course of this Review have highlighted the fact that Suriname is a generally open economy with strong historical and economic links to many parts of the world that is rich in natural resources and for which trade is essential for development.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr. Manuel A.J. Teehankee of the Philippines at the Trade Policy Review of Australia, 11 and 13 March 2020.
This eighth Trade Policy Review of Australia has allowed us to track and acknowledge significant developments in the economic trade and investment regime of Australia over the past five years. I would like to thank especially the head of the Australian delegation Mr. George Mina First Assistant Secretary Office of Trade Negotiations at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and his Canberra-based colleagues who made a very long journey to participate in this review under exceptional circumstances as well as our discussant Ambassador Julian Braithwaite Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom for his valuable remarks and insights. My gratitude is also extended to the WTO Members that provided advance written questions and approximately 40 delegations for their formal statements that allowed us to conduct the proceedings as a “virtual review”.