US, PH establish new TIFA work program

The United States and the Philippines have agreed to expand engagement on regional and multilateral issues following the recent conclusion of a two-day meeting under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in Washington, DC.

In a statement, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said that the United States acknowledged the Philippine government’s efforts to further strengthen ties with the world’s largest economy and to improve relations on areas including intellectual property rights and workers’ rights.

The meeting was chaired by Assistant US Trade Representative Barbara Weisel and Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. The Philippine delegation also included Philippine Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano and Edgardo Albon, chair of the Philippine Tariff Commission.

“On bilateral issues, the United States recognized the considerable efforts the Philippines has made to strengthen its intellectual property regime and overall framework for protecting worker rights, two areas of focus of recent US-Philippine cooperation,” according to a USTR statement.

“The two sides agreed to establish a new work program on labor affairs under the TIFA to further our efforts. In addition, the United States and the Philippines held detailed discussions on agricultural trade, related to rice and meat. These discussions will continue in the coming weeks.”

In response to the Philippines’ interest in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, US officials reportedly briefed the Philippines on the goals and objectives of the 12 participating countries.

“The two sides began a program of technical consultations to provide the Philippine government the detailed information it would need to consider [before joining] the TPP agreement,” the USTR said.

The TPP, which is targeted for conclusion by the end of August this year, is currently being negotiated among 12 countries: the United States, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The multilateral agreement, deemed to be the country’s only chance to have a trade agreement with the United States, is expected to lower trade barriers among participating countries and to strengthen patent protection, among others.

To further boost the country’s chances of joining the second round of TPP negotiations, the Philippines will have to further liberalize its economic policies as soon as possible, said Tami Overby, US Chamber of Commerce vice president for Asia.

“If the Philippines decides that it wants to be part [of TPP], my advice would be to move and start liberalizing as quickly as possible because you will have to go to each of the current 12 partners and get their support,” Overby said. “What the Philippines needs to do is to look at the final agreement and see if [joining the TPP] makes sense for the Philippines. Right now, your Constitution says that it is illegal for foreigners to own land. But to join TPP, you have to change [pertinent provisions] in your Constitution. TPP is a very open architecture.”