By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the substantial conclusion of negotiations between the Philippines and the European Union on a free trade agreement, saying the deal would create more opportunities for trade and investment.
He spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by phone to discuss the progress of the FTA negotiations.
In a statement, President Marcos Jr. said he looks forward to the formal conclusion and eventual signing of the landmark agreement.
The President said, “This is an important milestone in our strong partnership with the European Union and our shared commitment to open and fair trade. The agreement will bring more opportunities for business and investment, create more jobs and support stronger and more diversified supply chains.”
He added, “We will work to ensure that these opportunities reach our Filipino farmers, manufacturers, consumers and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), while opening new possibilities for the Philippines in AI (artificial intelligence), digital technologies and other important sectors.”
During the phone call, the Chief Executive and von der Leyen emphasized that the FTA signifies a strong partnership between the Philippines and the EU, according to the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) statement.
The PCO said President Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the FTA will benefit not only the MSMEs but also the Filipino farmers, manufacturers, and consumers.
Von der Leyen stressed the importance of having stable and predictable trade partners such as the Philippines.
The Philippines and the EU first launched negotiations for an FTA in 2015.
However, FTA talks were put on hold in 2017 following the EU’s concerns over alleged human rights abuses under the Duterte administration.
Negotiations for the free trade deal were relaunched following von der Leyen’s visit to Manila in 2023.
According to the latest data from the European Commission, bilateral trade between the EU and the Philippines has significant potential to grow beyond current levels, with trade totaling 17.6 billion euros in goods in 2025 and 10.3 billion euros in services in 2024.
In 2025, the EU was the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the country’s total trade in goods.
