The Philippines and EU delegations at the opening ceremony of the 3rd round of FTA negotiations in Brussels.

BRUSSELS 16 June 2025 – The Philippines and the European Union (EU) embarked on a fresh round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations today in Brussels, Belgium, aiming to give a significant boost to the already vibrant bilateral trade and investment relations between the two sides.

The Philippine team is led by Chief Negotiator Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), supported by experts from the inter-agency delegation including the DTI, the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor and the Employment, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Energy, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Competition Commission, the Government Procurement Policy Board and the Governance Commission for GOCCs, as well as other relevant attached agencies, bureaus and sub-units, such as the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, the Bureau of Customs and the Professional Regulation Commission.

In the opening ceremony to jumpstart the days of talks, EU Chief Negotiator Dora Correia lauded the positive momentum generated by the earlier negotiation rounds and emphasized the significance of upholding a rules-based global trade order amidst complex geopolitical challenges. As he called to balance ambition with flexibility, Undersecretary Gepty also enjoined the parties to adopt a positive approach in the spirit of mutual understanding, highlighting the far-reaching benefits should a modern and balanced FTA come to fruition.

The EU is the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner and also a significant source of foreign direct investments. Over the past few years, the EU has been actively pursuing new FTAs and modernizing existing ones with a diverse array of partners, as it seeks to build more productive and resilient trade networks.

Earlier rounds were held in Brussels from 14 to 18 October 2024 and in Manila from 10 to 14 February 2025. In the ASEAN region, Singapore and Viet Nam have already concluded FTAs with the EU, while Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are in various stages of active negotiations.

The Philippines’ chief negotiator Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty and the rest of the delegation are welcomed by Ambassador Jaime Victor Ledda at the Philippine chancery in Brussels, Belgium.