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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM backs 2 ASEAN trade pacts

PBBM backs 2 ASEAN trade pacts

Published Oct 26, 2025 06:08 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. interacts with fellow leaders at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct. 26, 2025. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. interacts with fellow leaders at the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Oct. 26, 2025. (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—President Marcos has conveyed the Philippines' support to the two trade agreements within the region—Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0 Upgrade.
Reaffirming the country's support to open markets, infrastructure development, and regional economic growth, Marcos emphasized the importance of ATIGA and ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 Upgrade which he dubbed as a "new chapter in their partnership."
Marcos stated this during the ASEAN Leaders' Summit Plenary on Sunday, Oct. 26.
According to Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, the upgrading of ATIGA ensures the agreements' continued relevance in addressing contemporary trade challenges.
He said the enhanced agreement offers significant benefits, particularly through improvements in trade facilitation measures, transparency provisions, dispute settlement mechanisms, and the inclusion of new and emerging trade elements.
Notably, the mutual recognition of authorized economic operations will allow certified traders to benefit from expedited cargo clearance throughout ASEAN, he added.
Go further said that businesses will find it easier to comply with administrative requirements, self declaration of origin, the implementation of the electronic certificate of origin, and acceptance of digital documentation through ATIGA.
One of the main events during the plenary session was the handover ceremony of the Second Protocol to Amend the ATIGA, which Marcos witnessed.
During the plenary session, ASEAN leaders also discussed the upcoming signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade.
Palace Press Office and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro cited the statement of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, saying that the ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade "opens new opportunities for cooperation in areas vital to the region’s future, including the green and digital economies and sustainable supply chain connectivity."
Lazaro underscored that the ACFTA upgrade would allow the partnership between China and ASEAN to be more aligned with current global realities.
"The ASEAN-China Free trade Area or ACFTA has long been one of the ASEAN's most important economic partnerships. Now, with the 3.0 upgrade, both sides are working to make this partnership more modern, more comprehensive, and better aligned with today's global realities," Lazaro said.
"The upgraded protocol opens new opportunities for high-impact cooperation in areas that are increasingly vital to our region's future from the green and digital economies to sustainable supply-chain connectivity," Lazaro added.
Lazaro said the Upgraded Protocol also empowers micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate more fully in regional value chains, while the strengthened frameworks on fair competition and consumer protection will help ensure inclusive and sustainable growth.
The ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade has included guidance on the following aspects of trade: Competition and Consumer Protection; Digital Economy; Green Economy; Supply Chain Connectivity; and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.
The original ACFTA provided guidance on Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin; Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation; Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment Procedures; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; Trade in Services; Investment; and Economic and Technical Cooperation.

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President Marcos ASEAN Summit Malaysia ATIGA ASEAN-China Free Trade Area
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