Thomas tells PHL: Institute reforms to join trans-Pacific trade treaty

The Philippines may qualify for the Washington-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement that will forge a high standard, broad-based regional treaty on trade and investments, the US government said Thursday. What the Philippines needs to do is institute reforms on corruption in the bureaucracy, reforms in the courts system, and promote good governance, said US Ambassador Harry Thomas. US President Barack Obama has identified the Philippines as one of four priority countries the US will support and push for enhanced partnership, according to the ambassador. For the Philippines, the trek toward TPP qualification started on Feb. 1 when Philippine economic managers led by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima met with key US officials over the roadmap to qualifying for the US-led TPP. “Qualifying for the TPP is based on how you [the Philippine government] can show your constituents how effectively you can institute reforms such as good governance, corruption reforms and court system," said Thomas during the regular BusinessMirror press briefing Thursday. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario wants the Philippines to qualify for the second set of countries negotiating TPP with the US. On the present list of US partners are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. On becoming a partner nation “We hope to become part of the second batch of countries to negotiate TPP with the US," Del Rosario said in a separate briefing with the diplomatic press corps at the Sofitel hotel also Thursday. “… [T]here are many deficiencies" being addressed by government to qualify for the TPP. “The US government is helping us address these deficiencies through its 15 departments," he said. The second meeting on the Philippines’ bid for TPP will take place next September in the US. “We have invited the same (Philippine) officials to come to the US to discuss — this time — the chapter and verse, as to what new laws, executive orders, laws needed for amendments to be able to go on the path to TPP," said Thomas. “It’s now up [to] the [Aquino] administration, the Senate and Congress to take the necessary step[s]," he said. — VS, GMA News