Philippines Signs Free Trade Agreement with UAE

Signs Free Trade Agreement

Philippines: The Philippines signed a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking Manila’s first trade pact with a Gulf country and a key step in expanding its global trade footprint. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 Summit at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. Trade Secretary Ma. Christina Roque signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippines. The CEPA aims to reduce tariffs, improve market access for goods and services, boost investment flows, and create new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE. The agreement covers priority areas including digital trade, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), sustainable development, intellectual property, competition and consumer protection, government procurement, and technical cooperation.

The agreement is expected to support Philippine exports such as bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, machinery, and other high-demand products. Bilateral trade between the Philippines and the UAE reached nearly 1.83 billion USD in 2024, with the UAE ranking 18th among the Philippines’ trading partners and accounting for about 39% of Philippine exports to the Middle East. Preliminary studies indicate that the CEPA could increase Philippine exports to the UAE by 9.13%, generate consumer savings, and strengthen trade ties with the broader Gulf region. In services, the pact ensures a stable and non-discriminatory environment for Filipino firms, including MSMEs, across sectors such as information technology and business process management, tourism, healthcare, education, construction, and professional services. The CEPA complements the Philippines’ existing free trade agreements with partners including Japan, South Korea, the European Free Trade Association, ASEAN, and members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, while reinforcing existing Philippines-UAE cooperation in investment, trade, energy, logistics, innovation, and tourism.

Source: PNA