The Agreement's Politico-Strategic Dimension

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This article examines the politico-strategic motivations of the Bush Administration’s efforts to foster free trade agreements (FTAs) to a number of countries, including the Philippines. These motives include the US interest in advancing trade opportunities for American businesses and in ensuring its role as a leader in the global political economy. The article then explores the possible political ramifications of an FTA with the US on Philippine society and how the Philippine government can respond to this offer of a preferential trading arrangement from its major security ally.