The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is looking towards a productive meeting with the US government in July to address the issue of detained clothing shipments.
The DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) has been engaged in bilateral dialogue with the US for the past few months. The discussions aim to secure the release of Philippine-made apparel flagged over concerns about the use of Uyghur cotton.
“The July meeting provides a valuable opportunity to address the remaining concerns of US authorities. We are confident that through continued collaboration, we can find a solution that ensures fair trade practices while safeguarding the interests of both Philippine exporters and the US market,” said EMB director Bianca Sykimte.
The July meeting intends to discuss the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The DTI expects the opportunity to raise the problem of detained shipments at the sidelines of the meeting.
The detention of shipments stemmed from international efforts to combat the use of cotton produced in Xinjiang, China where the Uyghur Muslim minority is reportedly forced into labor.
The US and other countries have taken a strong stance against Uyghur cotton and implemented stricter import regulations to ensure products entering their markets are ethically sourced.
While there have been positive developments, with the US releasing six from 15 shipments that entered the US mainland, the Philippines hopes to expedite the process further.
“What worries us is that most of the clothing are meant for particular seasons. Manufacturers will be facing more losses if the shipments go past a certain season,” Sykimte said.
The Philippines remains committed to upholding ethical sourcing practices while ensuring the competitiveness of its garment industry, she said.
The Philippines sees the upcoming July meeting with US officials as a critical juncture to resolve issues.
Sykimte expressed optimism that the DTI could make significant progress in resolving the issue.
