Pinoys must focus on potential gains, not losses of RCEP, says DTI chief

Filipinos should look at the potential gains instead of losses from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said on Monday.

RCEP, a free trade agreement among the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, eliminates up to 90 percent of tariffs, or the taxes imposed on imports, among these countries within 20 years.

Pascual said a study measured the gains, which could be 2 percent of GDP, compared to potential losses of 0.6 percent of GDP.

“Why are we looking at losses and not potential change? I think we have to change the perspective. We need our stakeholders, and our business so that they are able to take advantage of the provisions of the RCEP,” he said.

“There are gains that can be achieved even by some agricultural products. There are products that are now maybe exported to China, Japan, Korea at lower tariff than before. So these are potential gains ,” he said.

He said more professionals would also be allowed to practice in member countries.

Several groups have said the sense of belongingness as a community,” he said. agriculture sector is not competitive enough to face the influx of imports.

PresidentFerdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured that the government would back Davao City in cementing its position as one of the most peaceful, orderly, and harmonious local government units.

“We are conscious of that, that’s why our negotiators are very strong in their position to list down products that will be excluded in the tariff adjustments,” he said.

Sensitive items, such as rice, cereal, sugar, coffee, animal feeds, pork, lettuce, carrots and onions, among others, are exempted from the tariff adjustments, Pascual said.

Meanwhile, some local agricultural products such as preserved pineapple, papaya and durian, will receive preferential tariffs from China and South Korea.

PURSING GSP+ RENEWAL

Pascual said it is also important for the Philippines to renew the GSP+ preferential treatment given by the European Union. The status allowed the country duty-free export of some 6,000 eligible products to the EU market.

The Philippines was awarded the GSP+ status in 2012. The EU earlier announced that the country was included in the list of countries eligible for renewal of the GSP+ status provided that it implements 27 international core conventions on labor rights,

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In his message dated March 3 for the 86th Araw ng Dabaw (Davao Day), Marcos acknowledged the “Crown Jewel of Mindanao” as the primary agricultural, commercial, and industrial hub of the island.

“Along with this, it has served as a melting pot of cultures and traditions, thereby providing a home to many ethnolinguistic tribes and sustaining their respective identities,” he said in his message.

He commended the city’s sensitivity, compassion, and strong community spirit in both good times and bad.

“With our synergetic efforts,

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I trust that we can enhance the Filipinos’ quality of life and help them attain their dreams and aspirations for themselves and our nation,” he added in his message.

Marcos likewise expressed hope that the month-long celebration would make Dabawenyos more grateful for the sectors, institutions, and individuals who led the social and economic growth of the city.

“I am one with the Dabawenyos in commemorating your city’s history and reveling in the beauty of the land and its people. May you also utilize this time to express yourselves through art and music, and reaffirm your

A three-day meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions conference, led by the Tourism Promotions Board to promote the city as an ideal “bleisure” (business and pleasure) destination, kicked off celebrations on March 1.

Trade and agricultural fairs, basketball tournaments, and an Ironman 70.3 race will be held for the first time in three years as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has slowed down.

Vice President Sara Duterte, the city’s former mayor, has confirmed she would join the “Parada Dabawenyo” (Parade of Dabawenyos) on March 18, along with government and private ofFPBBM, P10