Zubiri meets with US trade representative

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri met with Ambassador Katherine Tai, the US trade representative, who is in the country to drum up support for US trade policies under the Biden administration and expound on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

IPEF is the economic and trade policy of the Biden administration in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, which include the transition to clean and green economy, digital economy, decarbonization of infrastructure, trade-facilitation, supply chain, sound labor practices, sustainable agricultural practices and making jurisdictions more attractive to businesses and investments.

For his part, Zubiri stressed the need for like-minded countries who share the same values on freedom, democracy and rule of law to strengthen their partnerships not only on defense and security matters but more importantly on trade, investments and economy.

Zubiri further stressed that the Philippines, being the United States’ main security ally in the region, should be given preferential treatment on trade and investments.

To which Tai replied that the US, under the Biden administration, is back to engaging its partners on these matters.

She further said that “the US will enhance its economic partnership with the Philippines to have more inclusive prosperity between the two countries.”

Zubiri thanked the Trade Representative for this renewed US engagement with the Philippines on trade and economic fronts. He said that he hopes that US companies which are leaving China and elsewhere should prioritize the Philippines to relocate their businesses.

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson also joined the meeting.