The Trump administration’s decision to impose higher tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico could inadvertently provide a strategic opportunity for the Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) industry and the local office market.
US shares retreated on Monday after President Donald Trump dashed hopes of a delay—or even a full reversal—of the increased tariff on goods imported from Mexico and Canada. This decision reignited fears of a trade war between the North American neighbors.
The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is pressing for swift passage of the proposed Online Site Blocking Act after reporting that online piracy in the Philippines remains stubbornly high, with half of Filipino consumers accessing pirated content in 2025.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) slid 1.3 percent to 6,384.58, extending profit-taking for a second session after touching seven- to nine-month highs. Even so, the benchmark remains comfortably above the 6,000 mark, keeping the broader uptrend intact and suggesting the pullback is more consolidation than reversal.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its temporary ban on poultry imports from the US states of Illinois and Wisconsin, allowing chicken products from these areas to enter the Philippines again. However, imports from Kansas remain suspended due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks.