The United States expects to soon reach a deal with the Philippines on the long-term framework for the establishment of an economic security zone under Washington’s Pax Silica initiative, according to a senior Trump administration official.
Manila last month became the 13th country to join the technology supply chain alliance, which was established in December with the aim of establishing a secure technology supply chain, including critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, computing, and data infrastructure.
Under this framework, the Philippines and the U.S. have agreed to jointly establish a 1,620-hectare Economic Security Zone on Luzon Island. According to the U.S. State Department, this zone is intended to “surge production for inputs vital to U.S. supply chains” and to “serve as a staging point for a purpose-built platform for allied manufacturing.”
In an interview with Reuters published yesterday, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg said that the two nations are in talks over a long-term framework for the establishment of the zone.
“I expect the United States and the Philippines to reach a deal sooner rather than later,” said Helberg, who this week paid a visit to the proposed site in New Clark City, not far from the former U.S. Clark Air Base, which was closed in 1992. He added, “There’s an enormous amount of momentum behind this.”
