RP wary of non-tariff barriers

The Philippines will urge its Southeast Asian neighbors to resist temptations to dilute a regional trade pact with non-tariff barriers when economic ministers meet in Malaysia this weekend, a Trade official said yesterday. It will also be calling for less haste in negotiating new trade deals so existing ones can first be "digested," the official said ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers retreat on Sunday. "The Philippine message to ASEAN will be clear: Despite all the difficulties, we have all lived up to the Jan. 1 commitment," Trade Assistant Secretary Ramon Vicente T. Kabigting said in a telephone interview yesterday, referring to the recent round of tariff cuts promised under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement. "Now we want everyone to live to their promises. [Don’t maliciously impose] non-tariff barriers. Don’t block legitimate exports to each other," said Mr. Kabigting. The statement comes as several ASEAN members have raised barriers "once in a while," Mr. Kabigting said, declining to elaborate. Earlier, the Bureau of Export Trade Promotions had raised concern over Indonesia’s new pre-shipment inspection scheme which could make the entry of goods there more difficult. Go slow At the same time, the Philippines will call for a slower pace in the regional bloc’s negotiations for a service trade pact with India and a cooperation deal with Gulf states, Mr. Kabigting said. "Let’s not be too hasty on the next moves. The attitude of the Philippines is we want to study these, sure, but let us not rush the engagement because, precisely, we want to digest the liberalization we already did," he said. The meeting in Putra Jaya, Malayasia, said Mr. Kabigting, will partly serve as a check on the progress of members’ integration. Ministers are also expected to lend their views on a statement Vietnam -- this year’s chair -- is drafting on coordinating exits from stimulus programs for release at the ASEAN Summit in April, Mr. Kabigting said. The statement will push for prioritizing government spending for "connectivity" infrastructure to improve intraregional trade, he said. The group will also be firming up plans for an ASEAN trade and investment road show in the United States next month. -- Jessica Anne D. Hermosa, BusinessWorld