US, PH to reach deal on economic security zone 'sooner rather than later,' US official says

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SINGAPORE – The United States is expected to reach a deal on the long-term framework for an economic security zone with the Philippines “sooner rather than later,” a senior US official said on Thursday.

As Washington aggressively expands its technology supply chain alliance known as “Pax Silica,” the official, Jacob Helberg, said both countries have a two-year window to work out the arrangements under a pact they signed last month.

Both parties will also set sectoral industrial priorities for the kinds of economic activities in the zone, Helberg, the US undersecretary of state for economic affairs, told Reuters in an interview.

“I expect the United States and the Philippines to reach a deal sooner rather than later,” he said, adding, “There’s an enormous amount of momentum behind this.”