[CTC] US: Vietnam backsliding on human rights

[Arthur Stamoulis]

ECONOMY WATCH
PH eager to join Trans-Pacific pact
BY RAPPLER.COM
POSTED ON 03/18/2013 5:25 PM  | UPDATED 03/18/2013 10:19 PM


MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines doesn't want to be left out of a  
free trade agreement between the United States and 10 other countries,  
known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

In a statement on Monday, March 18, the Philippine embassy in the  
United States said Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia Jr. outlined Manila’s  
desire to join the TPP in his presentation at Georgetown University on  
Thursday, March 14.

The United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico,  
New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam are the current parties  
negotiating the TPP to eliminate trade barriers in the Asia-Pacific  
region. While the Philippines does not have a seat at the negotiating  
table yet, the country has drawn up a roadmap that it hopes will lead  
to its inclusion.

"The roadmap to the TPP reflects the Philippine Government’s interest  
in joining after it has undertaken adequate preparations for the  
commitments required under the agreement," Ambassador Cuisia said, as  
he echoed President Aquino’s instructions to look into how the  
Philippines could become part of the proposed free trade area that  
will account for 40% of global gross domestic product (GDP).

Cuisia said the roadmap prepared by the Department of Trade and  
Industry is focused on:

Involving stakeholder engagement in trade policy-making
Trade policy research
Capacity-building
Enhanced interagency cooperation
Cusia said he also wants to see the Philippines join the Regional  
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), an initiative led by the 10  
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which  
excludes the United States but includes China and 5 other countries as  
dialogue partners.

"RCEP and TPP are mutually-reinforcing tracks for regional  
integration," said Cuisia, as he laid out the steps the Philippines  
must take to not be the odd man out in these trade agreements.

http://www.rappler.com/business/economy-watch/24088-ph-trans-pacific-trade-pact
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