High-level PH-US talks focus on climate deals

ROADMAP At the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington on April 11, (from left) acting Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III agree to craft a roadmap on the long-term delivery of US military aid to Manila for the “shared defense” buildup of the two treaty allies. —AFP

More trade opportunities are expected to emerge between the Philippines and the United States after top-level talks in Washington refocused discussions on climate-related technologies and policies for the first time.

“Manila and Washington agreed to reinforce the bilateral relations with a new focus on a strong long-term economic partnership,” Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs on April 13.

Manalo, along with Carlito Galvez Jr., officer in charge of the Department of Defense, led the Philippine delegation to the ministerial dialogue between the two countries’ top defense and diplomatic officials.

“This refocusing takes into account the stakes of communities in the relationship, as well as our responsibilities with respect to climate change and environment,” Manalo said, adding that the new tack would boost the country’s upward trajectory as a middle-income economy.

The talks, Manalo said, focused heavily on climate finance, green metals, clean energy transition and de-carbonization strategies, critical infrastructure, and new technologies for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.

He did not specify the new trade initiatives, but said they are expected to take shape in the next few months.

As expected, there was no development yet on the resumption of Philippine privileges under the US General System of Preferences that allows the duty-free entry of more than 5,000 Philippine products into the United States.

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