US willing to help RP stop entry of fake goods from China

Newly-designated US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney has offered the US government’s cooperation and assistance in helping the Philippines talk with China regarding the entry of various fake products into the Philippines.

Majority or about 85 percent of fake products sold in the Philippines actually comes from China, based on findings of the International Property Office (IPO).

Kenney recently paid a courtesy call on Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila to discuss various trade and investments matters as well as intellectual property rights (IPR) concerns of the US.

Also present during the coutesy call of the US Ambassador was IPO Director General Adrian Cristobal Jr.

According to Cristobal, Kenney noted that Philippines’ significant achievements in curbing IPR violations, as well as protecting IPR.

However, the US, Cristobal said, repeated its continuing concerns but also offered its cooperation in the form of technical assistance, grants and other measures.

More importantly, Cristobal said, "Ambassador Kenney offered the US government’s assistance in helping us (the Philippines) talk to China about the flow of fake products into the country."

China is now a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is slowly adhering to its trade rules.

The US has been stepping up its trade engagement with China, urging the Asian superpower to play by WTO rules.

Favila informed the US Ambassador that he had also met with Chinese officials recently on how to deal with the flow of such goods into the Philippines.

Cristobal, likewise, is set to meet with his Chinese counterparts on IPR matters.

Kenney was recently a guest of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) where she acknowledged that there are "great" economic opportunities in the Philippines, but observed that "the Philippines isn’t where it ought to be."

In her first speech before the AmCham, Kenney cited the Philippines’ weakness in terms of continuing corruption and intellectual property issues.

The Philippines, Kenney said, has an abundance of natural resources that need to be preserved such as its marine resources which had recently been acknowledged in the diving industry as being one of the top three diving destinations in Asia.

In the same vein, Kenney also noted the Philippines’ human resources and entrepreneurial skills.

Kenney took note of the observation that unfortunately, the Filipinos’ English skills and educational level appears to be deteriorating.