Germany backs relaunching of PH-EU free trade agreement talks

Malacañang on Thursday said Germany has expressed its support for the relaunching of the free trade agreement negotiations between the Philippines and the European Union (EU).

As he presented his credentials to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in Malacañang, Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke, Germany’s ambassador-designate to the Philippines, emphasized the importance of strong economic relations between the Philippines and Germany.

He cited the recent visit to the Philippines of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who had announced the relaunching of the free trade negotiations.

“That was… what we in Germany really pushed for. We pushed the information to do this and our business people here are very keen on really exploring new possibilities and new ideas and new business opportunities both ways, of course, not just for the German industry here but also for the Philippine industry in Germany,” Pfaffernoschke said.

“So, I think there is a real promising path that lies ahead. And as you said, people-to-people relations are already strong and they might become even stronger once we exchange even more skilled workers from the Philippines to Germany, also Germans coming to the Philippines. So strong ties we already do have, we might even foster in the years to come. And I think that is the basis for good relations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos stressed that the trade and relations between the two countries have become very important in terms of global growth and economic stability.

“That provides a very good foundation for us to explore other things. So, I think the continuing development cooperation between our two countries is going to grow only more important in the near future, even in the medium term,” Marcos said.

“And I’m glad that I was able to welcome you simply to mark perhaps a new beginning in what we have been doing before between Germany and the Philippines. And I say a new beginning simply because an important aspect to this transformation of our economies is to realize that it is a different world post-pandemic and with (the armed conflict in) Ukraine,” he added.

Last month, the EU and the Philippines vowed to work on setting the “right conditions” for the free trade agreement.

Von der Leyen said the EU is the fourth largest trading partner of the Philippines, adding that the two parties “can do so much more” when it comes to trade. 

“So I’m very glad that we have decided to relaunch negotiations for free trade agreement,” von der Leyen said during the joint press statement with Marcos before governments officials at the Palace.

“Our teams will get to work right now on setting the right conditions so that we can get back to the negotiations. A free trade agreement has huge potential for both of us in terms of growth and in terms of jobs,” she added.

The resumption of free trade agreement discussions between the Philippines and the EU is targeted to begin before the year ends, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual earlier said in July. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News