PH ties with US remain strong, says DTI exec

THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry downplayed on Friday fears and concerns about how recent developments concerning President Duterte could harm the “traditionally excellent bilateral relations between the United States and the Philippines.”

In an interview with the Inquirer, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo explained that they were banking on the long and mature history shared by the Philippines and the US as well as the sustained confidence and interest of American investors in local businesses and industries to secure the bilateral economic relations between the two countries.

The trade official referred to the incident when President Duterte, in one of his press briefings, reportedly cursed US President Barack Obama as a “son of bitch” when asked about the possibility that leaders of other countries might ask him about alleged extra judicial killings at the recently concluded Asean summit. The remark was specifically made while Duterte explained that he would not be lectured over extrajudicial killings following the aggressive war he had launched against drugs. More than 3,000 had allegedly been killed due over the past two months due to this campaign.

“First, you have to contextualize the incident [as the comment] was not directed against President Obama, but rather a general statement against the tendency of some foreign governments to meddle in domestic affairs,” Rodolfo explained.

“Second, we would like to believe that we have a mature relationship with the US based on long history and mutual respect. Our economic relations in particular are framed by bilateral institutions and agreements—for instance the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (Tifa), which continued to enhance and strengthen bilateral relations,” Rodolfo told the Inquirer.

The Tifa provides a platform for the Philippines and the US to discuss issues on investment, customs, intellectual property rights and agricultural trade. The last meeting held earlier this year saw a discussion of the Philippine’s interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, during which the US briefed Philippine officials in detail regarding key TPP chapters of interest and reviewed plans for further technical consultations on TPP outcomes.