The Philippines will host the fourth round of negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) in October 2025, as both parties aim to sustain momentum toward forging a modern and comprehensive trade deal.
The upcoming talks follow the third negotiating round held in Brussels, Belgium, on June 20, 2025.
Philippine chief negotiator Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty and his EU counterpart Dora Correia, a director at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade and Economic Security, led five days of discussions covering 19 key areas.
“The progress made so far is encouraging, and we look forward to launching market access negotiations in the next round. We are committed to concluding the FTA in a way that responds to today’s global trade realities and supports inclusive, sustainable growth,” Gepty said.
The FTA between the Philippines and the EU is the most comprehensive trade agreement the Philippines has pursued to date.
Aside from core topics like trade in goods, services and investment, the talks now include emerging areas such as government procurement, digital trade, energy and raw materials, and trade and sustainable development.
In 2024, total trade between the Philippines and the EU reached $15.5 billion, with the EU accounting for 7.7 percent of the Philippines’ global trade. Exports to the EU stood at $8.1 billion, while imports totaled $7.5 billion.
The Philippines also achieved a record 80.3-percent utilization rate of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
