EU Resumes FTA Talks With Philippines

The EU and the Philippines are resuming negotiations on a free trade agreement, the European Commission announced March 18. The commission said the goals of the FTA will be market access for goods and services, easier digital and sustainable trade, "effective sanitary and phytosanitary" procedures, sustainable food systems and intellectual property rights protections. The EU also noted the Philippines' large reserves of critical raw materials, "including nickel, copper and chromite," as a reason for resuming the FTA talks. The first round of talks are expected to be held "later this year."