PH retains EU GSP+ status: Roque

FILE: Harry Roque (PCOO PHOTO)

MANILA– Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Saturday announced that the Philippines was able to retain its privileges under the European Union’s (EU) Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).

Subject to international conventions, the Philippines under GSP+ is allowed to export some 6,000 eligible products to EU member states duty-free since December 2014.

The bloc evaluates the country’s compliance with International Labour Organisation and United Nations Human Rights conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“So far, pagkatapos ng report ng EU na isinumite na sa EU Parliament, wala pong pagbabago doon sa ating GSP+,” Roque told reporters in a press conference in Aklan.

In the EU report, Roque said the Philippines was found to have made “progress” in the areas of labor rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance.

The report also noteds the Philippines ha been signatories to the conventions such as labor, human rights, and environment among others even before the GSP+, he added.

Given the GSP+ is a unilateral privilege granted to select countries, he cleared the bloc can take it away anytime.

“The GSP is meant to assist countries to reform, this is why the EU has continued to engage the Philippines under the leadership of  President Duterte,” he said.

During the press conference, Roque added that the Philippines and EU reached a milestone in terms of trade.

In 2017, Philippine exports with the EU grew by 31 percent. The 31 percent of total merchandise export to the EU amounted to USD8.4 billion making the 28-member bloc the country’s third largest trading partner.

Per Roque, food and agricultural export such as animal products, fish and related products, prepared foods and fruits, in addition to automotive parts, leather, textile and footwear contributed to this growth.