Palace defends failure to secure lower US tariff

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday defended the failure of the Philippines to secure a lower tariff from the United States after the US approved a zero percent import tariff for specific products originating from Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro was reacting after the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed disappointment that three countries cornered zero percent tariff on certain exports while the Philippines got none despite being Washington’s closest ally.

“(Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs) Secretary Frederick Go says, ‘we are trying to protect several industries in the Philippines such as rice, corn, sugar and poultry,’ ” Castro said.

The US decision was formalized during the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

“You see our neighbors getting special tariff exemptions and the Philippines has so far received none. We were expecting a little bit of good news because we have been negotiating for at least a sectoral policy relief when it comes to our semiconductor industry,” PCCI vice president for trade Bryan Ang said.