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The Philippines and the European Union are on track to meet the target completion of a free trade agreement by 2027 seen to expand and strengthen bilateral economic relations
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Top-level officials of the Philippine government, the EU–ASEAN Business Council, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines affirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations and signing the deal by 2027, marking the 50th anniversary of EU–ASEAN relations
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The third round of negotiations for a PH-EU FTA was held in June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium
The Philippines and the European Union (EU) are on track to meet the target completion of a free trade agreement (FTA) by 2027 seen to expand and strengthen bilateral economic relations.
Top-level officials of the Philippine government, the EU–ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) recently affirmed their commitment to concluding negotiations and signing the deal by 2027, which marks the 50th anniversary of EU–ASEAN relations.
Secretary Frederick Go, special assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, said during the 2025 European-Philippine Business Dialogue that the FTA would help the country become more competitive amid global trade shifts.
“The EU remains a vital trade and investment partner. We are inviting more European companies to invest and cooperate with us,” he said. “The Philippine economy remains strong and resilient, and this is the perfect moment to deepen our partnership and create sustainable economic opportunities together.”
The third round of negotiations for a PH-EU FTA was held in June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. Earlier negotiations were held in Brussels in October 2024 and in Manila in February 2025.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in a press release in July, said the deal with EU is the “most comprehensive trade agreement the Philippines has pursued to date.”
Among the new sectors being negotiated include government procurement, digital trade, energy and raw materials, and trade and sustainable development.
The EU was the Philippines’ fifth-largest trading partner in 2024 as well as a significant source of foreign direct investments, according to DTI. The Philippines is also covered by the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus.
READ: EU seeks comprehensive free trade pact with PH
