FTA with India, UAE in the works, says trade official

A trade official said that discussions are ongoing toward a free trade agreement (FTA) with India—the second largest economy in Asia—and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of the Philippine government’s efforts to expand its portfolio of preferential trade arrangements with other countries.

Trade Assistant Secretary Allan Gepty told reporters last week that discussions with representatives from these two countries have begun and that arrangements for the next steps are in the pipeline.

“For India, our aim is on a preferential trade agreement. So, it will just cover the trade of goods. Nothing on rules or market access,” Gepty said on the sidelines of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines’ 2023 outlook forum in Makati.

“With the UAE, we just basically launched [the manifestation], the intent to embark on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement,” he added. INQ