The Philippines is getting ready to start a new round of talks with the European Union on a prospective bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), according to the country’s chief trade negotiator. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), a state-owned think tank, is completing a study on the impact of a trade pact with the EU on various Philippine industries and sectors. “We will finalize the PIDS study by August. There have been initial presentations. Policy experts are finalizing their studies. After that we will have to hold multisectoral consultations nationwide,” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., who heads the agency’s industry development and trade policy unit.
Philippines preparing for free trade talks with EU -Study to determine FTA impact on local industries
