GOVERNMENT executives expect the Philippines’s trade deals with the European Free Trade Area (Efta) group of countries clinched early next year.
The optimism was expressed by Trade Assistant Secretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, in a chance interview on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade Repository launching ceremonies.
Rodolfo said the Philippine government is optimistic on concluding negotiations on a free- trade agreement (FTA) with the four-country bloc. The Efta bloc is composed of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
He also cited increased labor access as a benefit the Philippines may reap from the deals.
“Kaya ng first quarter of 2016 ’yan. [We can accomplish that in the first quarter of next year],” Rodolfo told reporters. According to him, Philippine officials and Efta executives will “be having the next round of negotiations this month.”
Rodolfo added that Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. is set to go to Geneva on November 24 to engage in the fourth, and possibly last, round of negotiations. He said Cristobal would stay in the European country until November 27.
The Philippines has been able to move forward quickly with the Efta-Philippines FTA due to the complementary economies of the two parties, according to Rodolfo.
This means that greater access to each other’s markets will not significantly disadvantage or displace the local industries of each economy, he claimed.
In terms of areas to be negotiated, Rodolfo said the Efta bloc appears to be receptive to the interest of the Philippines to push for more labor access, especially since labor costs in Europe are considerably higher.
The Department of Trade and Industry official earlier noted that the FTA can lead to more employment opportunities for Filipinos in Efta industries that local micro, small and medium enterprises would like to enter into.
“Ang parang nakikita nating model [The model we’re eyeing] is not laborers seeking employment as individuals, but through companies [that would] either invest [here] or Filipino companies forming joint ventures [with the Efta firms],” Rodolfo said in a previous interview.
Specifically, Rodolfo said the Efta bloc is open to the access of workers via their companies in the services industry, specifically in information technology and business-process management.