‘DTI chief must focus on FTAs, MSMEs’

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual wants the new chief of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to focus on negotiations for free trade agreements (FTA) and initiatives to support the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“What needs to be given focus are our negotiations for FTAs,” Pascual told journalists yesterday, when asked about his recommendations for the next DTI chief.

Pascual said there are ongoing negotiations for FTAs with the European Union and United Arab Emirates, while the FTA with South Korea is in the process of being ratified.

He said there is a review of the existing Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and there are plans to start talks for FTAs with other countries like Canada.

“My marching order to our International Trade Group was to already start working on identifying a country in Latin America where we can initiate FTA and a country in Africa. We have lined up a short list,” Pascual said.

Aside from FTAs, he also recommends continuing initiatives for MSMEs like shared service facilities to help expand their product range.

Pascual, who is returning to the private sector, said he is leaving the DTI with a pipeline of investments.

Last month, he said there are 210 projects with investments amounting to $60.9 billion in various stages as a result of the presidential visits, excluding public-private partnerships.

He said there were also initiatives on consumer protection like the creation of a national enforcement task force to fight uncertified products and the suspension of online selling of vape products to protect the youth under his watch.

When asked about National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, who are rumored to be the next DTI chief, Pascual said Balisacan knows about the trade department’s initiatives, while Go is a potential successor.

“I think whoever will replace me will be knowledgeable and we’ll leave with him or her the summary of the things we’ve done and things that will continue to require attention for the secretary of DTI. We are looking