DTI highlights anew the importance of PHL participation in RCEP

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) hosted the “International Trade Forum: The Importance of Philippine Participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement” last 6 April 2022 via Zoom.

The forum was organized to continue the dialogue between experts from the government, academe, and the legislative to discuss the economic benefits of RCEP and discuss the concerns raised by certain stakeholders, particularly the agricultural sector.

It was attended by Senator Cynthia Villar as well as over 60 legislative staff of the Philippine Senate. Members of the Philippine trade negotiating team were also present.

For the opening remarks, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez emphasized the cost of non-participation in the RCEP Agreement: “We cannot afford to delay or not participate in this FTA deal when our ASEAN neighbors are already reaping the advantages of the agreement with partners. And they are already benefitting from it.”

Secretary Lopez cited that Singapore’s Trade Minister recently announced that local businesses are already exploring opportunities brought about by RCEP, through the additional preferential market access they gained from China and Japan for products such as mineral fuels, plastics, chemical products, food preparations and beverages, among others.

“Delayed participation in RCEP may send concerns to the business sector of the openness of the Philippine economy, and may divert to other economies the trade, investment, and other economic opportunities that the RCEP may bring,” Secretary Lopez added.

DTI Assistant Secretary and the Philippines’ RCEP chief negotiator, Atty. Allan B. Gepty also emphasized that the Philippines cannot afford to isolate itself from this regional FTA as it would be inconsistent with the country’s trade policy direction as the Philippines just introduced various

economic reforms to open and liberalize our markets, and to put more stability in our investments, such as amendments in Foreign Investments Act, Public Service Act, and Retail Liberalization Act among others.

For his presentation, Assistant Secretary Noel A. Padre of the Department of Agriculture (DA) discussed the potential benefits of RCEP for the agriculture sector through the improved tariff concessions the Philippines secured from China, Japan, and Korea for some agri-fishery products, such as canned pineapple, papaya, and chocolate. Assistant Secretary Padre also explained that the local manufacturers and exporters of certain products such as canned tuna, will gain from the liberalized rules of origin for under RCEP.

Dr. Cielito Habito, Professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University and Chairman of Brain Trust, Inc., provided insights as to why prompt RCEP ratification is important. According to Dr. Habito, Philippine hesitancy in ratifying RCEP sends negative signals to the international community and reinforces our historical reputation for tentative policy setting. This could only lead more foreign investors to bypass the Philippines on trade and investment, as it is easy for them to opt to move to our more decisive neighbors. Dr. Habito further added that the delay in ratification based on illusory threats is potentially costly to industries.

In closing, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo cited an article by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) dated 29 March 2022 regarding Thailand’s RCEP utilization leading to about 4 billion yen or about 1.7 billion pesos of exports in two (2) months after the entry into force of the Agreement. According to the article, RCEP is being used more and more in Thailand’s exports to Japan and to China given the enhanced market access and liberal rules of origin under RCEP. The stakeholders of Thailand that are benefiting from the RCEP are competing with Filipino exporters in the Japanese and Chinese market. With this, Undersecretary Rodolfo stressed that if the Philippines is not part of RCEP, it will disadvantage our exporters.

The RCEP Agreement entered into force on 01 January 2022 for Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Australia, China, Japan, and New Zealand; 01 February 2022 for Korea; and 18 March 2022 for Malaysia.

The RCEP Agreement was ratified by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 2 September 2021 and is under Senate consideration to for their concurrence.