Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Tuesday, June 6, that he would fly to Brussels, Belgium toward the end of June to follow up on the Philippines’ status on the European Union’s (EU) Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), as well as negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual holds a press briefing for the Malacañang Press Corps on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
During a Palace briefing, the official underscored the importance of the GSP+, which provide tariff privileges on a number of products, to a low-middle income country like the Philippines.
“Kasi alam ninyo iyong GSP+ is available to the Philippines now, given that the Philippines is a low-middle income country. Kapag naging upper middle income country ang Pilipinas, hindi na tayo eligible sa GSP+ (Because you know the GSP+ is available to the Philippines now, given that the Philippines is a low-middle income country. When the Philippines becomes an upper-middle income country, we are not eligible to GSP+ anymore),” he explained.
The EU’s GSP+ gives developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance.
Under the GSP+, the Philippines enjoys duty-free entry for 6,200 local products, which include fruits, animals, and vegetable fat, textiles, and even metals.
The continuation of these perks, however, hinges on the country’s adherence to the 27 international conventions, which include human rights.
With the Philippines’ GSP+ status set to expire in December 2023, a member of the European Parliament said that releasing detained former senator Leila de Lima would prove its willingness to continue enjoying the GSP+ privileges.
In February, Hannah Neumann added that rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC) would also be a strong indicator for the Philippines.
While Pascual did not mention the requirements for adherence to international human rights conventions, he mentioned that EU parliamentarians are pushing for the start of negotiations for the PH-EU FTA.
He said the Philippines has the support from European businesses that are operating in the Philippines and also from some members of EU parliament.
Last month, the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to push for the resumption of the negotiations for a bilateral Philippine-EU FTA.
The Chief Executive, for his part, said that the timing and conditions are ripe for both parties to agree to a bilateral FTA since it would be a win-win strategy for both.