Suchergebnisse

ASEAN has been working towards the free movement of goods in the region. Although significant progress has been made in the opening up of markets through tariff elimination, addressing the issues of non-tariff measures (NTMs) remain. With the reduction in tariffs across the globe, increasing attention has thus shifted to the effects of these NTMs that become simply non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade. Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) could be justified for different reasons such as health, security, environment, and consumer protection. However, they could adversely affect the global and regional production chains by unnecessarily increasing the cost of doing business. This paper reviews existing studies in Non-Tariff Measures for better understanding of NTM implications to international trade as well as local business and to propose some ways forward. For additional insights, it presents the results of the small sample survey (perception) among exporters on the types of NTMs encountered within and outside ASEAN and the perceived operating cost impact of NTMs. The survey identifies three main NTBs affecting operations of their businesses either within or outside ASEAN- these are (i) Custom Formalities (ii) Rules of Origin (iii) Technical Barriers to Trade. These are consistent with the findings of an International Trade Center (ITC) Business Survey on NTMs in the Philippines 2015-2016. Some of the policy recommendations of the paper are creating a comprehensive and updated database of NTMs, intensive reforms to streamline NTM procedures, improvements in testing laboratories and facilities, accreditation and certification process and capacity building on what and how to comply with applicable SPS and TBTs.

SME development as a major domestic policy objective that is consistent and reinforced within APEC would not only engender inclusive growth, but also enable SMEs to become drivers of growth for the domestic, as well as the regional economy. This paper provides some background about the setting, locally in SME development policy and regionally in APEC SME activities, and offers recommendations for APEC cooperation for mainstreaming SMEs in the regional and global market.

The Global Financial Crisis of 2007 was one of the worst crises that hit the world economy since the Depression era. For the next two years, the crisis created waves of economic contraction that affected developed and developing economies. The Philippines was not spared from this crisis. As an export-oriented economy, the global financial crisis created serious strains in the domestic economy when its top export destination for both goods and services suffered a downturn. Inflow of foreign direct investment also slowed down, further creating a slack in economic growth, and consequently leading to less employment opportunities in the country. Several studies analyzed how the global economic crisis was transmitted to the domestic economy. This paper culled the results of these studies with the end goal of understanding the impact of the global financial crisis on the Philippines' human resources. It also tackled the government's response to mitigate the impact of the crisis in the labor market and the lessons learned from these interventions. This paper is part of the APEC project on Human Resource Impacts of the Global Economic Crisis, which aims to assess the human resource impacts of the global economic crisis.

Regional production networks and local production linkages are important not only for the generation of industrial activity through investment flows but also as essential sources of new information and technology. Complementing this are the so-called knowledge networks within or around industrial agglomerations that are equally important sources of technology for industrial upgrading and innovation. Both are present in the case study area of CALABARZON in the Philippines but the former seem to be more apparent than the latter as this has been characterized as weak based on secondary data and conduct of survey of establishments. With weaknesses in the S&T system in the country as part of the study's findings, policy suggestions were provided to strengthen the linkages that remain to be wanting but are important for stimulating innovation.

The Philippines has been more cautious in its policy toward free trade agreements (FTAs) than other ASEAN member-states, having signed, so far, only one bilateral agreement with Japan in addition to the various ASEAN+1 agreements. While the government is expected to progressively reduce preferential tariffs to zero, Philippine firms have historically been slow to take advantage of FTAs. This survey reaffirms that this awareness and the usage of FTAs need significant improvement among both manufacturing and services sector firms.Identified as the main source of information for FTAs, the government needs to increase the efficiency, scope, and reach of its promotional and technical training programs and to rely further on technology to deliver results. These efforts to enhance FTA utilization are directly linked with the easing of rules of origin (ROOs) compliance and administration. At the national level, these efforts include reforms toward electronic Certificates of Origin and self-certification, and linkage to the national single window. This will improve timelines and ease the entry of micro, small, and medium enterprises. Regional efforts to harmonize ROOs can increase FTA utilization across ASEAN member-countries and pave the way for the forthcoming Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Within the context of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Scorecard mechanism developed by the ASEAN Secretariat to monitor the implementation of the AEC Blueprint, the study focuses on the current state, performance and impact of investment liberalization and facilitation, trade facilitation, and transport and logistics services regulatory regime. The analysis was based on survey questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions complemented by secondary data provided by national and international agencies. The study shows that after more than two decades of pursuing market-oriented reforms such as liberalization, deregulation and privatization; there exists a large gap between policy and practice; coordination among government agencies has remained ineffective; governance has been weak; poor infrastructure continues to hamper efficient business operations; and many processes such as registration and applications for permits and licenses have remained complex, problematic, and costly. Many complementary policies and institutions that are necessary to support the reforms and generate supply-side responses leading to employment and growth are missing. If market reforms are to have their intended effects, "behind the border" complementary policies that define the business environment must be addressed, including investment in human capital, infrastructure, and the quality of governance in the country. To move forward, the Philippines should substantially increase infrastructure investment spending and strengthen its weak institutional and regulatory environment. These are necessary to enable us to deepen our integration within the ASEAN region and the global community and take advantage of the opportunities offered by the rising trend of economic integration in the region.

The study identifies outstanding issues and bottlenecks and provides recommendations to facilitate the Philippines' full compliance to its commitments to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Various in-depth interviews and surveys were conducted with concerned stakeholders from government agencies and the private sector to bring to fore the issues and bottlenecks for policymakers' action. Although its focus is mainly on services and investment liberalization, this study also tracks policy changes in trade facilitation, nontariff measures, standards and conformance, and mutual recognition arrangements after the release of the 2010/2011 AEC Scorecard Reports.