The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs emphasized that goods produced in the Philippines, including those exported to the United States, are not reliant on forced labor, and stated that the government will continue to conduct consultations with the US on relevant issues.
Spokesperson for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, Annalyn Latoñel, issued a statement on Saturday in response to the US announcing tariff measures on 60 economies, including the Philippines. The US claims these economies have failed to effectively prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labor; as a result, the Philippines is subject to a 12.5% tariff.
Latoñel stated that the Philippines has long demonstrated that domestically produced goods, including products exported to the US, are not dependent on forced labor.
She said the Philippines has long established laws prohibiting forced labor and continues to improve its legal and institutional framework to establish appropriate mechanisms to effectively investigate and address goods suspected of being produced wholly or in part with forced labor.
"The Philippine government will continue to communicate with the relevant US departments to address these issues."
On another note, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez previously stated that the Philippines will strive to reduce the proposed US tariff to at least 10%.
He said the Philippines will also negotiate with the US and, as a basis for negotiation, will "remove items from the export list if it is proven that exported products involve child labor."
Latoñel stated that the Philippines has long demonstrated that domestically produced goods, including products exported to the US, are not dependent on forced labor.
She said the Philippines has long established laws prohibiting forced labor and continues to improve its legal and institutional framework to establish appropriate mechanisms to effectively investigate and address goods suspected of being produced wholly or in part with forced labor.
"The Philippine government will continue to communicate with the relevant US departments to address these issues."
On another note, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez previously stated that the Philippines will strive to reduce the proposed US tariff to at least 10%.
He said the Philippines will also negotiate with the US and, as a basis for negotiation, will "remove items from the export list if it is proven that exported products involve child labor."