Joselito Malig

Palace says PH has ‘strong policy’ vs. forced labor amid fresh US tariff

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Malacañang said Friday that the Philippines has a ‘strong policy’ against forced labor, in the wake of reports that the Trump Administration will impose higher tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners including the Philippines over “forced labor” imports.“We take note of the US decision and respect its processes. During the review, however, we emphasized that the Philippines has a strong policy against forced labor,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a statement Friday, July 24.She added that they informed the United States that a ‘Joint Administrative Order’ was signed Thursday which “establishes a mechanism to prevent the importation of products made through forced labor.”The said order was signed by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Frederick Go, and Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Francis Tolentino. It bans importation of goods linked to forced labor and establishes clear rules for shipment inspection.“We will continue engaging with the US while reviewing the coverage of the exemptions and their impact on Philippine exports,” Castro added.

Malacañang said Friday that the Philippines has a ‘strong policy’ against forced labor, in the wake of reports that the Trump administration will impose higher tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners including the Philippines over ‘forced labor’ imports.

Malacañang said Friday that the Philippines has a ‘strong policy’ against forced labor, in the wake of reports that the Trump administration will impose higher tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners including the Philippines over ‘forced labor’ imports.