Manila, Philippines – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today held a held a wide-ranging and productive meeting with Philippines Secretary of Trade and Industry Alfredo Pascual. Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pasqual reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening the U.S. – Philippines bilateral trade relationship and strengthening ties in the Indo-Pacific region. United States Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, also attended the meeting.
Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pascual looked ahead to the upcoming Indo-Pacific Economic Framework negotiating round. Ambassador Tai thanked the Philippines for the constructive feedback it has provided and noted the tangible economic benefits of the Trade pillar.
Ambassador Tai highlighted the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Detroit as an opportunity to demonstrate that resiliency, sustainability, and inclusivity are core values in trade policy. They also noted the importance of identifying opportunities to enhance the resilience of supply chains and helping Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) participate in the global economy.
Lastly, Ambassador Tai and Secretary Pascual touched on several bilateral trade topics and highlighted the importance of the U.S. – Philippines Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA). They instructed their teams to engage the TIFA working groups and they look forward to holding the next meeting in the near future.
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