Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno has warned the agency’s senior officials against attempts to steal seized smuggled cigarettes, ordering tighter monitoring and stricter inventory accountability. Nepomuceno, through a memorandum dated Aug. 3, told the BOC’s high-ranking...
The Philippines remains optimistic about the possible removal of the 12.5-percent tariff imposed by the United States (US) on its imports as the Trump administration reviews the country’s efforts to crack down on forced labor imports. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino...
The Philippines and Canada are set to hold the next round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) in September following last week’s productive talks, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). DTI Undersecretary Allan Gepty told reporters last Monday, Aug. 3, that the...
The Philippines is set to position itself as a regional manufacturing hub for electric mobility following the establishment of a program incentivizing domestic electric vehicle (EV) production, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said Executive...
The Philippines is taking a direct swing at expanding its agricultural footprint in the Middle East, using a fresh trade deal to put domestic coconut products directly onto supermarket shelves across the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Dubai launched...
The Philippines must step up law enforcement and gather independent data to combat persistent illicit trade if it wants future tax hikes on nicotine and tobacco to succeed, according to a global tax expert. While the nation has made significant progress in curbing smoking rates over the past...
The Philippines is set to sign its free trade agreement (FTA) with Chile in October, as it looks to upgrade bilateral ties while opening a promising new market for exporters. Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters that the signing of the comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA)...
Philippine merchandise exports rose 13 percent to a record high of over $46 billion in the first half of the year due to strong demand for key products and expanded market access. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that goods exports reached $46.72 billion from...
Philippine goods exports and imports both reached record highs in the first half of 2026, defying disruptions from the Middle East war and persistent threats of higher United States (US) tariffs, with outbound shipments climbing to $46.72 billion and inbound purchases totaling $77.53 billion. The...
Real estate developers are already lining up to register their properties as information technology (IT) ecozones after the lifting of the moratorium on new applications in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters on...
India is aiming to begin negotiations for a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with the Philippines by the end of this year as it looks to significantly expand trade in goods, according to its top envoy. In an interview with the Manila Bulletin on Tuesday, July 28, Indian Ambassador to the...
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) expects the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector to generate more jobs and attract new investments after the lifting of the ban on IT economic zones in Metro Manila. In a statement on Tuesday, July 28, Trade Secretary...
