Marcos asks help from Czech gov’t, bizmen for PH-EU trade talks revival

FILE PHOTO: This photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was taken during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, United States, on November 15, 2023. Marcos sought the support of the Czech government and businessmen in Prague on March 15, 2024, for the resumption of negotiations for a free trade deal between the Philippines and the European Union. Marcos was in Prague this March 2024 for a statel visit. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo

PRAGUE — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has sought the support of the Czech government and businessmen here for the resumption of negotiations for a free trade deal between the Philippines and the European Union.

He said restarting talks for a free trade agreement with the regional bloc will be a “big step” in elevating trade relations.

“We seek the support of the Czech Republic for the resumption of the Philippines European Union Free Trade Agreement negotiations,” he told Czech government officials led by Czech President Petr Pavel and businessmen at the Czech-Philippine Business Forum held at the Czernin Palace here on Friday morning.

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Marcos went on: “We believe that the resumption of these negotiations will be a big step in furthering our trade relations, with the end view to establish a stable, predictable, and enabling business environment that promotes inclusive and sustainable growth and development.”

The President added that “by working together, we can achieve our shared goals of stability, economic growth, and sustainable development in the region.”

The Chief Executive made the pitch on the last day of his three-day state visit to the Czech Republic.

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He made a similar appeal last Tuesday when he spoke at the Philippine-German Business Forum in Berlin, where he stressed Germany’s “vital” support for the resumption of the negotiations for the FTA with the European Union.

It may be recalled that foreign affairs secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines is hopeful that the formal negotiations for the free trade deal with the regional bloc will begin “very soon.”

Negotiations began in December 2015 while the second negotiations happened in February 2017. However, discussions were placed on hold until July 2023 when the Philippines and the European Union announced their intention to begin technical discussions on the free trade deal as a step to resuming negotiations.