THE United Kingdom (UK) is looking at strengthening its trade relations with the Philippines this year with the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (Jetco) playing a vital role.
"Jetco, which was launched last year, is now entering its second year as a government forum," Director for Trade and Investments Iain Frenkiel said.
"As the business and trade team in the embassy, we focus on sectors aligned with the UK government’s industrial strategy, which also match Philippine government priorities.”
Ron Yip, chief negotiator for the UK's Department of Business and Trade said, "We see the Philippines as full of potential so there is a lot of room for continuing to improve our trade and investment relationships.
"It's our fifth year anniversary of being a dialogue partner to Asean, which also means that this year we are in the position to renew our plan of action with Asean," he added.
The renewal will focus on facilitating digital trade, regulatory standards, and assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The Jetco was established in March 2025 to deepen economic ties and increase bilateral trade beyond the £2.8 billion mark, focusing on areas like infrastructure, energy, and digital services.
In 2025, total trade between the UK and the Philippines reached £3.0 billion.
