MANILA, Philippines – Ipinarating ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., ang suporta ng Pilipinas sa dalawang trade agreement sa loob ng rehiyon gaya ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) at ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA) 3.0 Upgrade.
Sa katunayan, muling pinagtibay ng Pilipinas ang suporta sa ‘open markets, infrastructure development, at regional economic growth.’
Binigyang diin ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng ATIGA at ASEAN-China FTA 3.0 Upgrade na binansagan nitong isang “new chapter in their partnership.”
Sinabi ito ni Pangulong Marcos sa isinagawang ASEAN Leaders’ Summit Plenary, araw ng Linggo, Oct. 26.
Sa kabilang dako, ayon kay Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go, ang pag-upgrade sa ATIGA ay patiyak ng patuloy na pagkakaugnay ng mga kasunduan para tugunan ang kontemporaryong trade challenges.
Sinabi pa nito na ang karagdagang kasunduan ay mayroong mahalagang benepisyo partikular na sa pamamagitan ng pagsasa-ayos ng “trade facilitation measures, transparency provisions, dispute settlement mechanisms, at ang pagsasama ng bago at umuusbong na trade elements.”
“Notably, the mutual recognition of authorized economic operations will allow certified traders to benefit from expedited cargo clearance throughout ASEAN,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Go.
Sinabi pa ni Go na makikita ng mga negosyante na mas madali ng sumunod kapag mayroong ‘administrative requirements, self declaration of origin, implementasyon ng electronic certificate of origin, at pagtanggap ng digital documentation sa pamamagitan ng ATIGA.’
Isa sa pangunahing kaganapan sa isinagawang plenary session ay ang handover ceremony ng Second Protocol to Amend the ATIGA, na sinaksihan ni Pangulong Marcos.
Sa plenary session, tinalakay ng mga ASEAN leaders ang nalalapit na paglagda sa ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade.
Sa kabilang dako, tinukoy naman ni Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary at Palace Press Officer Claire Castro ang naging pahayag ni Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, nagsabi na ang ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade “opens new opportunities for cooperation in areas vital to the region’s future, including the green and digital economies and sustainable supply chain connectivity.”
Binigyang diin ni Lazaro na mapahihintulutan ng ACFTA upgrade ang partnership sa pagitan ng Tsina at ASEAN na mas maging nakaayon sa kasalukuyang global realities.
“The ASEAN-China Free trade Area or ACFTA has long been one of the ASEAN’s most important economic partnerships. Now, with the 3.0 upgrade, both sides are working to make this partnership more modern, more comprehensive, and better aligned with today’s global realities,” ani Lazaro.
“The upgraded protocol opens new opportunities for high-impact cooperation in areas that are increasingly vital to our region’s future from the green and digital economies to sustainable supply-chain connectivity,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Tinuran pa ni Lazaro na ang Upgraded Protocol ay nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) na ganap na magpartisipa sa regional value chains, habang pinalalakas ang balangkas sa patas na kompetisyon at consumer protection na makatutulong na matiyak ang ‘inclusive at sustainable growth.’
Kasama sa ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade ang guidance at patnubay ukol sa sumusunod na aspeto ng kalakalan: ‘Competition and Consumer Protection; Digital Economy; Green Economy; Supply Chain Connectivity; at Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.’
Nagbibigay naman ang original ACFTA ng guidance sa ‘Trade in Goods; Rules of Origin; Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation; Standards, Technical Regulations, and Conformity Assessment Procedures; Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; Trade in Services; Investment; at Economic and Technical Cooperation.’ (KRIS JOSE)
