MANILA, Philippines – Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo announced that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will present of a proposal to the United States to eliminate duties on export goods produced in areas devastated by Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
“We’ll see in the first quarter of next year. We’ll make a push for it,” Domingo said.
He explained that in the first quarter of 2015, the Philippine government will actively present to the U.S. a draft of the bill seeking the approval of duty-free access stateside of goods produced in Yolanda-affected areas.
The draft bill has already been drawn up, but the DTI is still looking for a sponsor for the proposal, Domingo added.
Domingo noted that the proposal aims to stimulate economic activity in the areas greatly impacted by the typhoon; even as he pointed out that there are opportunities for business in garments, handicraft and food by manufacturers from these areas.