Malacañang on Monday explained the Philippines’ non-inclusion in the United States’ decision to impose zero percent import tariffs in some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, saying this was to protect industries here in the country.
A Thai news outlet earlier reported that the US granted zero percent import tariffs on select products from Southeast Asian countries, which included Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia – a deal supposedly made during the ASEAN Summit. But Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go said the country’s non-inclusion was to “protect several industries in the Philippines.” This includes, Go said, industries on rice, corn, sugar, and poultry.
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