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The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization

Explore the Philippine people's movement against neoliberal globalization, its history, and the impacts of FTAs. Discover campaigns, forms of struggle, and concrete gains in the fight against imperialism. Examine ongoing challenges and find ways to broaden resistance.

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The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization

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  1. The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization By Teddy Casiño July 28, 2006

  2. Pop: 85 M • 7,100 islands • Colonized by Spain (400 years) and US (44 years) • Vibrant people’s movement that has ousted two presidents • Strong anti-imperialist, anti-fascist tradition in the people’s movement • Constitution contains nominal protectionist provisions

  3. Philippine FTAs and BITs • 38 Bilateral Trade Agreements • First with Pakistan in 1961 • Latest with Thailand in 1999 • 13 agreements made since 1994 • 37 Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements • First with UK in 1980 • Latest with Portugal in 2002 • 30 agreements made since 1994

  4. Standard contents of RP FTAs • MFN Treatment and Exemptions • Exceptions and Safeguards • Payment Arrangements • Trade Promotion • Dispute Resolution • Joint Trade Committees

  5. But bulk of RP trade is with USA and Japanwhich have no FTAs • USA • Bilateral trade agreement on tariff concessions as part of RP’s ascension to GATT (1980) • Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2002 • FTA in initial phase of negotiations

  6. Bulk of RP trade is with USA and Japan • Japan • FTA currently being negotiated to include: • Trade in Goods • Rules of Origin • Customs Procedures • Paperless Trading • Emergency Measures • Trade in Services • Movement of Natural • Persons • Investment • Mutual Recognition • Competition Policy • Intellectual Property • Gov’t Procurement • Cooperation • Improvement of the • Business Environment • Dispute Avoidance and • Settlement • General and Final • Provisions

  7. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s 70s and 80s – debt accumulation, debt trap Early 80s – trade liberalization under IMF (LOIs, MEPs) Early 90s – structural adjustment programs (liberalization, privatization, deregulation)

  8. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s Mid 90s – membership in WTO – unprecedented, unilateral cuts in tariff rates – neoliberal policies are institutionalized (AGILE group funded by US-AID) 1996 – RP hosts APEC Summit, globalization hailed as the “next wave to development” 1997 – Asian currency crisis, Charter change push 2004 – fiscal crisis, renewed Cha-cha

  9. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s The Philippines became a dumping ground for excess goods and capital from industrialized nations, a source of cheap labor, raw materials and semi-manufactures. With the Philippine economy one of the most liberalized in the ASEAN region, FTAs have become almost superfluous.

  10. People’s resistance to imperialist globalization • Debt reduction campaigns (calls range from repudiation, cancellation to cap on payments) • Anti-SAP campaigns • People’s Campaign Against Imperialist Globalization (APEC meetings) • Junk WTO campaign • WTO out of agriculture • Food sovereignty

  11. People’s resistance to imperialist globalization • Against large-scale, commercial mining • Against dams and other “development projects” • For fair trade • For water access • Against high power rates • Against deregulation of oil industry • Anti charter change campaign

  12. The anti-neoliberal campaigns are closely linked to campaigns against fascism and militarism (vs. imperialist plunder & war)

  13. Forms of struggle • Propaganda and education campaigns • Rallies and mass demonstrations • Networking and formation of alliances • Participation in official processes • Lobbying, negotiations • Initiatives in Congress • Filing of court cases • Armed struggle, peace talks • International solidarity work

  14. Some concrete gains • Stop/delay in mining operations • Stop/delay in “development projects” • Stop/delay in privatization programs • Constitution has not been amended yet • Congressional investigations • Mining Act declared unconstitutional but later reversed • Some tariffs raised • Imperialist globalization is constantly under challenge

  15. Problem areas • How to popularize issues, broaden resistance while raising the issues to the anti-globalization, anti-imperialist level • How to sustain mass mobilizations • Struggle against reformism and cooptation • Dealing with big capitalists, landlords and bureaucrats/politicians • Dealing with black propaganda and fascist attacks

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