Ched Rick Gatchalian

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the United Arab Emirates, where he witnessed the signing of trade and defense deals between the two countries. Presidential Communications Office

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PH, UAE ink first free trade deal to ease tariffs, expand markets

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768294073121FREN.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the United Arab Emirates, where he witnessed the signing of trade and defense deals between the two countries. <em>Presidential Communications Office</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates have signed their first free trade agreement to “reduce tariffs, enhance market access for goods and services, increase investment flows, and create new opportunities for Filipino professionals and service providers in the UAE,” Malacañang said on Tuesday.</p><p>President Ferdinand 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, the Palace said in a statement.</p><p>“The CEPA is the Philippines’ first free trade pact with a Middle Eastern country, marking a milestone in expanding the nation’s global trade footprint,” the statement read.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/12/marcos-jr-travels-to-uae-for-trade-defense-deals-sustainability-summit-1853">Marcos Jr. travels to UAE for trade, defense deals, sustainability summit</a></div><p>“Preliminary studies indicate the CEPA could boost Philippine exports to the UAE by 9.13 percent, generate consumer savings, and strengthen overall trade linkages with the Gulf region,” it read.</p><p>“It will also reinforce existing Philippines-UAE agreements, including the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and cooperation on trade, energy, logistics, innovation, and tourism.”</p><p>Philippine export products that are expected to benefit from this new deal include bananas, pineapples, canned tuna, electronics, machinery, and other high-demand products, while IT-BPM, tourism, healthcare, education, construction, and professional services sectors are also set to get a boost from the agreement, the Palace said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/8/marcos-to-travel-to-abu-dhabi-uae-on-january-12-for-sustainability-event-1225">Marcos to travel to UAE on January 12 for sustainability event, trade and defense pact</a></div><p>Bilateral trade between the Philippines and the UAE is pegged at nearly $1.83 billion in 2024, making the UAE the Philippines’ 18th largest trading partner accounting for some 39 percent of the country’s exports to the Middle East.</p><p>Aside from the CEPA, Marcos Jr. is also scheduled to witness the signing of a defense agreement between Manila and Abu Dhabi.</p>

<p>The United Arab Emirates accounts for 39 percent of the country’s exports to the Middle East.</p>

The United Arab Emirates accounts for 39 percent of the country’s exports to the Middle East.

Philippines, UAE ink first free trade deal to ease tariffs, expand markets

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Philippines, UAE ink first free trade deal to ease tariffs, expand markets

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 13, 2026 05:01 PM PHT

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Philippines

United Arab Emirates

Free trade

UAE

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

CEPA

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