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Thursday, July 08, 2004
Philippines, Japan end free trade talks (2:20 p.m.)
CEBU -- Japan and the Philippines have ended three days of free trade talks here, agreeing to resume negotiations after one month, a Filipino official said Thursday.
"The negotiation is still going on and we cannot say anything on the developments for now. Each side has its own views on the issues, and each side could not claim that's already it," Trade Undersecretary Thomas Alcantara told reporters.
The latest round of negotiations began in Cebu on Monday with Manila seeking to get Tokyo to open up its health care and construction industries to Filipino workers.
"It's one of the issues that is being considered very seriously. But we cannot divulge any particular development regarding this until specifics are agreed upon," Alcantara said after the meeting, which ended on Wednesday.
"This is an immigration issue and everything will have to be addressed," Alcantara added.
Last week, Japanese Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima said the Filipino demand could hamper the talks.
Alcantara said: "The next round of negotiation has tentatively been set for late August or early September. There was an offer that it will be held in Tokyo."
He said it was possible "two or three" more rounds were needed before both sides could sign a free trade pact.
"The negotiations won't take long. We just want it well-negotiated," he added.
At least 96 Japanese officials and 70 Filipinos flew to Cebu for the negotiations, the latest in a series that began after Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Philippine President Gloria Arroyo agreed in 2002 to look into the possibility of such an accord.
A draft Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement draft outlines the discussions covering trade in goods and services, rules of origin, customs procedures, paperless trading, mutual standards and investments.
It also covered a raft of other issues including movement of persons, intellectual property rights, government procurement and competition.
Both sides also identified "sensitive areas to both countries," which may need further discussion.AFP |
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