Philippine government urged to form a trade industrial council
Rafaelita Aldaba delivering a presentation at a forum in December 2024, shortly before she left the Department of Trade and Industry. (Photo from the DTI website)
MANILA, Philippines — The government must form a trade industrial council to help shield local industries from the ripple effects of global trade tensions, according to a former trade official.
Such tensions include the recent wave of US tariffs that are reshaping manufacturing and export markets.
Rafaelita Aldaba, formerly an Undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry, said the proposed council would be part of a broader strategy for trade and monitoring.
This, amid shifting global supply chains and the resurgence of tariff barriers in key export markets.
“That would be in charge of integrated trade defense, industrial upgrading and investment promotion,” Aldaba said during a forum on Friday.
READ: Toll turmoil: How Philippine industries navigate Trump’s trade tempest
She highlighted the need for dynamic trade intelligence and early warning systems to track global tariff shifts, supply chain relocations, and import surges.
Aldaba also recommended upgrading the country’s customs enforcement with digital post-entry audits. This may be done using artificial intelligence-powered anomaly detection measures and stricter rules-of-origin checks.
In addition, she called for streamlined regulatory processes to help local exporters comply with evolving international trade requirements.
She said these measures are crucial, particularly given the Philippines’ exposure to the recent US trade actions.
One-fifth of Philippine exports in 2024 went to the US
According to Aldaba, the US accounted for 19.9 percent — valued at $14.59 billion — of the Philippines’ total exports in 2024. The country trailed Vietnam’s 35.1 percent and Thailand’s 22 percent.
The Philippines key exports to the US are electronics, storage devices and ICT (information and communications technology) parts. Also top exports are coconut oil and printing machines.
Last April 2, US President Donald Trump announced a new set of tariffs on all foreign goods. These include a 17-percent rate on Philippine exports.
However, a temporary suspension of the measure was declared on April 9, the scheduled implementation date. Meanwhile, a 10-percent baseline tariff remains in effect during the 90-day pause.
Philippine Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and Secretary Frederick Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs met with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last May 2 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the new tariffs.
Both sides agreed to continue discussions, although no date has been set for the next meeting.
