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The Philippine FTA Experience. STATUS OF JAPAN-PHILIPPINES ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (JPEPA). Background. January 2002 – PM Koizumi proposed the “Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership” May 2002 – Pres. Arroyo proposed to set up a Working Group
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STATUS OF JAPAN-PHILIPPINES ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (JPEPA)
Background • January 2002 – PM Koizumi proposed the “Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership” • May 2002 – Pres. Arroyo proposed to set up a Working Group • August 2002 – Informal Consultations • 2002 to 2003 – Working Group and Joint Committee meetings
May 2003 – Creation of Phil. Coordinating Committee, with DFA USec for International Economic Relations and DTI Usec for International Trade as Co-Chairs • November 2003 – Presentation of study by the Phil. Institute for Development Studies • February 2004 to July 2005 – Formal negotiating sessions • July to October 2005– Legal Review
CHAPTER LEAD AGENCY • Trade in Goods Board of Investments Dept of Agriculture • Rules of Origin BOI • Customs Procedures Bureau of Customs • Paperless Trading BOC • Trade in Services National Economic & • Development Authority • Movement of Natural Persons Dept of Labor & Employment
Investment BOI • Competition Policy Tariff Commission • Mutual Recognition Bureau of Product Std • Government Procurement Dept of Budget & Mgt • Intellectual Property IPOPhil • Bilateral Econ. Cooperation NEDA • Improvement of Bus. Environ. Dept of Trade & Ind • General & Final Provisions Dept of Justice; DFA
Basic Principles • Comprehensive & substantial liberalization of bilateral trade & investment • Enhancement of mutual interests • Consistency with WTO • Take into account the economic situations of both countries & ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Parameters • Respective laws, rules and regulations • Treaties acceded to (no TRIPS +) • No specific mention of treaties not yet acceded
EXPECTED BENEFITS • Increase RP real GDP by 1.73% to 3.03% • Expansion in exports • goods: agricultural, industrial • professional services • Increased investments and technology transfer • electronics, automotives; sugar • Improved business environment for jobs and income generation
Prospects and Challenges for a Philippines-US FTA Exploring Our Options
Background • Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) (MOU signed in1989) • Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI) • launched by US President George Bush on October 26, 2002 • US and individual ASEAN countries will jointly determine if and when they are ready to launch FTA negotiations • US-Singapore FTA • Signed May 6, 2003 • 1st US FTA with an Asian nation and 1st FTA signed by Bush • Ongoing US FTA Negotiations • Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea
The RP-US FTA research project General Objectives To conduct an independent research on the feasibility and desirability of establishing RP-US FTA (2) To provide inputs for negotiation should a FTA initiative push through (3) To encourage and facilitate networking activities in support of these objectives
RP-US FTA Research Project Organizational Structure Steering Committee Members: DTI, Chair DFA PIDS Academe (DLSU-AKI) Bus. Rep (PhilExport) Sectoral (NCRFW) PIDS DTI RP-US FTA SC RP-US FTA REDC PASCN Secretariat Research Information and Dissemination Networking
Basic Guidelines • Should be driven/guided by our own reform objectives • Global competitiveness • Sustainable growth • Resource allocation efficiency • Poverty reduction • Keep within the principles of multilateralism • Ideal approach to bring about optimum welfare
Three Levels of Study On the whole economy Sectoral concerns Special issues
Studies undertaken A. Impact analysis on the whole economy • Overview of the Philippine-US economic relationship: Situationer Dr. Erlinda Medalla, PIDS • The Philippines – US FTA: A CGE AnalysisDr. Caesar Cororaton, PIDS
Studies undertaken B. Impact analysis on specific sectors/concerns • Agricultural Trade between the Philippines and the US: Status, Issues and Prospects Dr. Liborio Cabanilla, UPLB • Impact of a Philippines – US FTA: The Case of Agriculture Dr. Liborio Cabanilla & U-Primo Rodriguez, UPLB • Impact of and Prospects of Bilateral Services Liberalization Agreement Dr. Gloria Pasadilla, PIDS • Implications of an RP –US FTA on the Philippine Financial Services Industry Dr Leila Calderon- Kabigting, DLSU • Issues and Prospects on the Movement of Natural Persons and Human Capital Development in the Philippine-American Economic RelationsDr. Tereso Tullao, DLSU
Studies undertaken B. Impact analysis on specific sectors/concerns • Assessment of Readiness and Logistics Infrastructure of the Philippine Garments IndustryDr. Emilio Antonio & Cherry Lyn Rodolfo, UA&P • Expanding and Sustaining RP – US Linkages in Business Process Outsourcing Ceferino Rodolfo, UA&P • Enhancing and Deepening of the Competitiveness of the Philippine Electronics Industry Dr. Myrna Austria, DLSU • Impact and Potential for Industrial Goods/ ManufacturesFita Aldaba, PIDS
Studies undertaken C. Special Studies • An Analysis of Existing and Potential US FTAs and Defining Philippine Strategy for NegotiationAtty. Sedfrey Candelaria & Atty. Anthony Abad, AdMU • Specific Legal Issues on the Proposed Philippines – US Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Politico-Legislative PerspectiveAtty. Sedfrey Candelaria & Dr. Victor Venida, AdMU • WTO Related Concerns: Government Procurement, Competition Policy and Trade Remedies Atty Jeremy Gatdula • Talking Points on Intellectual Property Rights Protection for RP-US FTA Negotiation Atty. Delia Tantuico, UA&P • The Politico-Strategic Dimension of the US’ Proposal for an FTADr. Renato de Castro, DLSU & Maria Castanos, FSI
Main considerations • Impact on the economy • Political • Political-strategic ramifications • Gainers and losers • Key issues • Bilateral (both countries) • Internal (domestic) • Across sectors • Negotiating strategy • Very tricky and complicated • Question of resources
Next Steps • Need to continue doing our homework • More consultations • Involve private sector • Develop coalition • Keep watch on other FTA developments • Lessons from JPEPA experience • If FTA is pursued, need strong negotiating panel • The process is as important.
Thank You. website: http://rp_us.pids.gov.ph email: pascn@pidsnet.pids.gov.ph