PH in constant communication with US about trade negotiations

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro. Photo: Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is in constant communication with the United States after the latter asked various countries to list their best proposal on trade negotiations, according to Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro.

In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Castro was asked if the Philippines had already received a letter from the US after it set a deadline for its trading partners to provide their best proposals in areas such as tariff and quota offers for the purchase of US industrial and agricultural products, as well as plans to remedy any non-tariff barriers.

“According to the Department of Trade and Industry and Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, they are in constant communication with the US Trade Representative,” Castro said.

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“But they cannot divulge or give any details about this because we are covered by the confidentiality agreement. So that’s all we can say,” she added.

But is the Philippines satisfied with the ongoing talks with the US?

Castro said: “Yes.”

Based on a Reuters report, the draft letter of the US to its negotiating partners also contains commitments on digital trade and economic security, among others.

It was unclear, however, which countries received the letter, according to the same report. /atm