South Korea, Philippines Expect to Sign FTA Early Next Year

South Korea and the Philippines recently finished negotiating a free trade deal and expect to sign the agreement in February, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Nov. 1. South Korea will lift tariffs on 94.8% of Philippines‑sourced products, and the Philippines will cut tariffs on 96.5% of South Korean goods. The two countries had been close to a deal since 2019 (see 1912110023).