US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. — Photo by Agence France-Presse
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has asked the United States to exempt all, or at least some, of its exports from proposed tariffs targeting countries with inadequate safeguards against imports produced with forced labor.
In comments submitted to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) argued that the Philippines already has a “robust” legal framework and a “proven track record” in preventing forced labor.
“The Philippines has long demonstrated that its locally produced goods, including those exported to the US, do not rely on forced labor,” the DTI said in one of its submissions, filed by Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo.
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