RP remains hopeful on special garments deal with US

The local garments sector has not given up hope on securing a preferential agreement with the US that would allow special access for Philippine-made garments and textiles to the US market even though US officials have already indicated that such an agreement is not forthcoming.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila over the weekend disclosed that the Philippine garments sector, in fact, has launched another mission to continue to lobby for a preferential garments deal with the US.

According to Favila, the private sector led mission "has nothing to lose."

However, Favila said, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has decided to give its support to the garments sector mission by allowing Senior Trade Undersecretary Tomas Aquino to give his advice to the mission.

The garments sector mission is already in the US.

Just last month, Assistant US Trade Representative Barbara Weisel had said a sectoral agreement on garments between the United States and the Philippines is not likely.

Weisel had said that "a sectoral agreement on garments is extremely difficult at this point."

However, Weisel said, the US is still looking at other options it can offer to the Philippines.

The Philippine garments mission will reportedly explore those other options.

The Philippine garments sector had previously secured the services of an American lobby firm to explore the chances of the Philippines securing a deal for its garments exports to the US.