Philippines Finance chief: free trade pact with EU to be signed in third quarter this year
A free trade agreement between the European Union and the Philippines is expected to be signed in the third quarter of the year, a move seen to “strengthen trade, unlock new opportunities for exporters, and deepen economic partnership with the EU,” Finance Secretary Frederick Go said.
Go said the bilateral pact, which he described as the Philippines’ “most important economic agreement this year,” is currently under negotiation.
“It is a much-awaited milestone that will strengthen trade, unlock new opportunities for exporters, and deepen our economic partnership with the EU,” he said.
The planned agreement stemmed from discussions during the ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit 2026 held in Cebu City on May 7. Go said both parties are targeting the signing of the agreement in Q3 2026.
Philippine and EU leaders said the region needed to bridge the “gap between policy ambition and implementation.”
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Go said the bilateral pact, which he described as the Philippines’ “most important economic agreement this year,” is currently under negotiation.
“It is a much-awaited milestone that will strengthen trade, unlock new opportunities for exporters, and deepen our economic partnership with the EU,” he said.
The planned agreement stemmed from discussions during the ASEAN-EU Sustainability Summit 2026 held in Cebu City on May 7. Go said both parties are targeting the signing of the agreement in Q3 2026.
Philippine and EU leaders said the region needed to bridge the “gap between policy ambition and implementation.”
...