TRADE Secretary Cristina Roque has a double purpose when she attends the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jiangsu, China, on May 22 to 23.
“We’ll be meeting with potential investors in renewable energy (RE) and electric vehicles (EVs) [aside from the event],” Roque told reporters on Wednesday.
The APEC event will tackle navigating global trade uncertainty through cooperation in the digital economy, green supply chains and multilateral trading systems.
Roque will also join President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Japan on May 26 to 29 to help in the review of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa).
Up for review is an eight-percent tariff on bananas from the Philippines between October and March, and a higher duty of 18 percent from April to September.
The Philippines’ dominance of banana exports in the Japanese market may soon diminish as other banana-producing countries expand with lower tariffs.
Roque had previously said there is a need to amend the Jpepa to address remaining trade barriers, including tariffs imposed on Philippine bananas.
The country wants an endorsement from Japan to support its bid to become a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) free trade agreement.
This would provide market access for the country’s exports to CPTPP members which include Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Peru, Malaysia, Chile, Brunei and the United Kingdom.
In August 2025, the Philippines submitted its application to join the bloc, which represents 590 million people and accounts for nearly 15 percent of the global economy. CHYNNA GRACE ONG
