B2 DTI seeks Senate OK of European trade deal

Aagreement with Philippine representatives in the Swiss capital Bern on April 28, 2016.

The deal covers trade in goods and services, investments, intellectual property, government procurement, competition, and trade and sustainable development.

According to DTI, the agreement provides the Philippines with duty-free market access for all

Under the deal, the country may qualify for zero tariffs for prepara are imported.

- cant concessions on agricultural exports, particularly those being exported to EFTA members-states or those with high potential export interest, including those being sold to neighboring European countries.

Philippine service suppliers who want to enter the EFTA market can benefit from the organization’s commitments in cross- border supply and movement of persons, DTI said.

These commitments present opportunities for both skilled workers and professionals, particularly architects and engineers, it added.

Intra- corporate transferees— covering executives or managers and specialists— and business visitors would be allowed to enter and temporarily stay in the area. In some cases, applications of economic-needs tests would be waived.