DTI strikes better deal for SME exporters

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Philippines may get the boost they deserve now that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has started to push a scheme that will allow struggling exporters to gain greater and freer access to Asean markets.

Philippine trade officials already took what they called “self-certification” scheme to the next level when they forged agreements of understanding with their counterparts in Indonesia and Laos.

Self-certification requires a declaration from a certified exporter that a product meets the rules of origin under the free trade agreement, eliminating the need to secure a certificate of origin (CO) from the Bureau of Customs (BOC), DTI officials on Friday said.

The scheme will allow more small exporters to utilize the Asean trade agreements, particularly the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga), said Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy.

“The self-certification scheme benefits exporters as it eliminates financial costs and expedites the processes in obtaining a certificate of origin for the products our SMEs export,” Cristobal said.

The Philippines has signed agreements with Indonesia and Laos for the implementation of a pilot project on self-certification to help SMEs maximize free trade agreements, DTI said.

Under the self-certification scheme, intra-Asean trade is made easier by eliminating issues relating to CO verification, which will ensure smoother clearance of goods.

The project will allow the Customs bureau to learn how to better implement the system and build confidence in the system, particularly on risk management, DTI said.  Riza T. Olchondra