Advisory Support for EU-Philippines FTA Negotiations

TULIP supported the Philippine government, as part of the EU Horizon Plus project by the International Trade Centre, in their negotiations of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union. The engagement forms part of the ITC’s broader technical assistance programme for developing countries engaged in trade negotiations with the EU, reflecting the ITC’s mandate to support the trade competitiveness and market integration of developing and emerging economies.

EU–Philippines FTA negotiations represent an important opportunity for the Philippines to strengthen its trade and investment relationship with one of its major trading partners. The EU is a significant destination for Philippine exports, including electronics, garments and textiles, agricultural products, and services. A free trade agreement would offer the Philippines the prospect of improved market access across a range of sectors, reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers, and a more stable and predictable framework for trade and investment flows.

At the same time, negotiations with the EU are complex and demanding, encompassing not only traditional market access issues but also a wide range of regulatory and sustainability-related matters that reflect the EU’s increasingly ambitious approach to trade policy. These include chapters on trade and sustainable development, environmental standards, labour rights, digital trade, and public procurement, as well as the growing shadow cast by EU unilateral regulatory measures such as the CBAM, the EUDR, and supply chain due diligence requirements. Navigating these issues effectively requires deep technical expertise and a sophisticated understanding of how the EU’s internal regulatory agenda intersects with its external trade policy.

TULIP’s support involved analysing existing Philippines FTA commitments, and comparing and contrasting them to key commitments included in EU FTAs, with a focus on Intellectual Property, State Owned Enterprises, Government Procurement, Sustainable Trade and Development, Food Security, and Critical Raw Materials. The analysis formed the basis of technical workshops led by TULIP, which engaged Philippine government officials on these topics to better inform their negotiation position.