Cuisia disagrees with Mar on US-led free-trade accord

THE PHILIPPINE ambassador to the United States has reiterated the country’s interest in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a US-led free-trade agreement currently being negotiated among 12 countries, even as the administration presidential standard-bearer Mar Roxas has voiced his opposition to the idea of joining it.

At a year-end briefing for US business groups in Washington D.C., Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia spoke of the Philippines’ “keen interest” to accede to the TPP.

“We look back on an eventful year, but we also look back on the great strides taken by the Philippines on the firm belief that good governance is good economics. The Philippine economy is in excellent shape, and the future holds much promise,” Cuisia said.

According to the ambassador, the “strong macroeconomic fundamentals, prudent public finance management and good governance” allowed the Philippines to maintain the strengths of its business environment and competitiveness in 2015, as well as continued overall investor confidence.”

The briefing was co-sponsored by the Philippine Embassy, the US Philippines Society, and supported by the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Cuisia assured the US businessmen that the recent downturns in the Philippine stock market were reactions to external conditions rather than problems within the economy.

The Philippine embassy said the businessmen gave positive remarks about the Philippines’ economic efforts.