scrutiny” on beneficiary countries enjoying trade privileges, signaling its willingness to address a major concern that had tarnished the country’s reputation under its previous president.
The EU GSP+ is the regional bloc’s preferential tariff system, under which the Philippines enjoys zero duty for more than 6,000 products until this year.Its renewal has been put into question under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, stemming from criticism of his brutal war on drugs and its bearing on the human rights situation in the country.
Major exports under this scheme include crude coconut oil, prepared or preserved tuna and pineapple. Vacuum cleaners, spectacle lenses, new pneumatic tires of rubber, relays for voltage, bicycles and other cycles, footwear and industrial fatty alcohol are also included.
“The Philippines is a strong and reliable partner of the EU in the Indo-Pacific region, and a stronger collaboration between the two will bring more positive results for our respective economies,” Gepty added.