US, Japan...

Commerce (in the Philippines), US (companies) continue to seek avenues (for investments),” he said. “We’re also focusing in commercial opportunities in the transportation and IT sectors.”

This is where Law said the US and Japan are working closely together to assist Philippine authorities in security issues, transportation, among other sectors.

“We’re undertaking numerous programs to connect US companies with key decision makers in the Philippines to ensure that the latest, state of the art technologies are available to the Filipino people and the Philippine economy.”

Law cited programs and projects undertaken by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) where US companies are very active on. “US companies are working closely together with Japanese partners to identify ways to work together on infrastructure projects in the Philippines and also in the region,” he said.

The cooperation between US and Japan currently centers on technical and advisory functions such as the JICA-led 1390-billion Metro Manila subway project which is expected to be operational by 2025.

Aside from infrastructure programs, US companies and Japanese counterparts are also helping the country to set up what Law said was “viable” Internet services in the Philippines.

On the issue of the US-China trade

conflict, the American diplomat said while it’s “always enormous fun and dangerous” for any US official to give predictions either on the trade conflict or who will win in the 2020 US presidential election, Law said “There can be differences between administrations of course but the goal of the Trump administration is to secure a better and more equitable sustainable trade and economic relationship with China and we are certainly working toward that every day and we hope that ongoing efforts is going to result in positive developments but of course its an ongoing process.”