EU AND PHILIPPINES REACH PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT ON FREE TRADE DEAL
The EU and the Philippines have reached substantial agreement in their negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aimed at deepening economic ties with a strategic, fast-growing partner in Southeast Asia. Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque announced the substantial conclusion following a video call, putting the deal on a clear path towards conclusion in the coming months.
Bilateral trade between the EU and the Philippines amounted to €17.6 billion in goods in 2025 and €10.3 billion in services in 2024. In 2025, the EU was the Philippines' fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the country's total trade in goods.
The FTA will liberalise over 94% of tariff lines, covering more than 97% of bilateral trade, with tariffs eliminated and market access improved on both sides. EU industrial exports to the Philippines are led by machinery and appliances, transport equipment, medicines and medical appliances, while key agrifood exports include pork, poultry, dairy products and spirits. The agreement also sets out transparent rules on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade, intended to facilitate trade and reduce costs for companies, together with provisions on digital trade, government procurement, intellectual property, including protection of almost 200 EU Geographical Indications, energy and raw materials, and a Trade and Sustainable Development chapter.
The EU and the Philippines will now finalise the negotiations on the basis of the substantial agreement, including implementation and remaining technical details. Negotiations were first launched in 2015 and resumed in March 2024 after an interruption.
Source: European Commission