EU Trade Commissioner to travel to Manila to seal Philippines agreement

Maroš Šefčovič, the EU Trade Commissioner, is set to arrive in Manila next week to wrap up a trade agreement with the Philippines, the European Commission announced. The two sides have completed six rounds of talks focused on reducing tariffs and regulatory obstacles in a wide range of industries. The final hurdle involves opening public procurement to foreign bidders, a change for the Philippines which has traditionally kept such contracts domestic.

The deal also includes ambitious sanitary and phytosanitary standards for food and new automotive rules to aid EU manufacturers. Bilateral trade in goods reached €16.8 billion in 2024, making the EU the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner.