DTI chief confident Philippines will retain EU GSP Plus status

DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez is confident the country will retain the Generalised Scheme Preference Plus (GSP+) grant from the European Union despite the recommendation of EU lawmakers to revoke the GSP+ status for the Philippines.

In an interview with ANC Wednesday, Lopez said this is not the first time that the EU Parliament made such a recommendation to the EU Commission.

“This is not the first time that this has happened, so we are addressing them, all their concerns. We are just giving them the right information and [we are] factual,” he said.

The DTI chief said the EU Commission has a system in place in monitoring the country’s compliance to the international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Lopez said there is no reason for the EU to withdraw the GSP+.

“So far, we’ve been faring well in all issues that were raised every year. And

I think this is the third, or fourth time, that the EU Parliament has passed the same resolution. And every year, we are able to give our side, give our explanation, give our information and numbers. So, we shall be addressing this again in this process of monitoring,” he added.

According to the EU Delegation to the Philippines Head of Trade and Economic Affairs Maurizio Cellini, the regular monitoring was set to take place this month prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. A new schedule for monitoring has not yet been set due to the global health crisis, Cellini said.

Lopez said current Philippine exports to the EU reached EUR7.6 billion, EUR2 billion of which are eligible for GSP+.