The Philippines is accelerating negotiations for several free trade agreements (FTAs), with officials aiming to conclude key deals by mid-2026 to widen market access for local exporters.
Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said talks for one of the country’s priority agreements—the proposed FTA with the European Union—are nearing a critical stage, with the next negotiating round set for May 18 to 22 in the Philippines.
“We are still on track with our target. We are still working hard to conclude the negotiations by June of this year,” Gepty said during a press briefing.
If discussions proceed smoothly, the May round could serve as the final negotiating session before both sides formally announce the conclusion of the deal.
“Hopefully that will be the last round so that, in time for the June target, we can also announce the conclusion of the negotiations,” he added.
While the remaining issues are confidential, Gepty said negotiators have made “significant progress” in text-based discussions, leaving only a handful of outstanding matters that both sides hope to resolve in the next round.
Beyond Europe, the Philippines is also nearing completion of an FTA with Chile.
“For Chile, we’re almost there,” Gepty said, noting that only a few technical items remain under discussion. “We hope to conclude the negotiations hopefully by next month.”
Officials do not expect major issues that could delay the agreement’s completion.
Meanwhile, Manila is also advancing negotiations with Canada. The first round of talks for the proposed bilateral FTA concluded in February, while the second round is scheduled for April.
Gepty said negotiators will tackle all chapters of the agreement in the upcoming round, including early discussions on market-access modalities.
The push reflects the government’s broader strategy to expand the country’s network of trade deals and diversify export markets amid shifting global supply chains.
