Philippines touts USD 8.17B exports at US-APEC

SUZHOU, China — Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque positioned the Philippines as Asia’s next premier digital powerhouse during a high-level meeting with the US-APEC Business Coalition on May 21, 2026.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Suzhou, China, and gathered executives from Mastercard, Visa, Johnson & Johnson, Onsemi, NCAPEC, and UPS.

Roque highlighted the resilience and growth of the Philippine economy under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

She said the country’s export sales surged last month to an all-time high of USD 8.17 billion, the highest monthly performance recorded since 1991.

The figure represented a 20.4% increase from the previous year, driven largely by electronics, which accounted for 59% of total exports at USD 4.82 billion.

Roque said technology and innovation were at the top of the regional agenda, with formal APEC meetings set to begin the following day.

She said discussions were underway on a proposed APEC Trade Digitalization Cooperation Framework focused on building secure and inclusive online trade networks.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it is using technology to upgrade local small businesses, expand e-commerce infrastructure, accelerate artificial intelligence adoption, and establish the Philippines as the “Digital Services Hub” of Asia.

The DTI said this readiness has drawn global investments in high-tech infrastructure, including large-scale data centers and green manufacturing.

Roque also linked these efforts to the Philippines’ role as ASEAN Chair in 2026, citing the country’s push for the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

She said negotiations are moving quickly and expressed optimism that the agreement will be signed during the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in November.

The agreement is expected to mark a historic milestone as the world’s first region-wide, legally binding digital trade pact.

Roque said the international partnerships reflect President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas agenda by helping ensure economic gains reach startups, farmers, and young entrepreneurs across all provinces.

She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with global business leaders and regional neighbors to build a secure, interconnected, and prosperous future.