The Philippines and the United States are expected to release more details of a newly signed critical minerals agreement during an upcoming bilateral strategic dialogue, as Manila anticipates the partnership will unlock high-value investments and strengthen domestic industries.
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said the memorandum of understanding signed in Washington last week is part of broader efforts to integrate the Philippines into the U.S.-led critical minerals supply chain.
“We’re going to have a bilateral strategic dialogue with the United States and the Philippines in the coming weeks. I think it’s during that time that we will have more information regarding the critical minerals agreement,” Romualdez said during the annual U.S.-Philippine Society briefing in Manila.
The agreement was signed Feb. 4 during the 2026 Critical Minerals Ministerial. It puts into motion a government initiative to transition the country from exporting raw mineral ores to producing processed minerals, refined metals, and downstream manufactured products.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the partnership is expected to deliver significant economic gains by attracting investments in mineral processing, refining, and value-added manufacturing.
“The MOU allows the Philippines to move beyond simply supplying raw ores,” Roque said. “It will create high-skilled jobs, expand local industries, and position us as a key player in global supply chains for semiconductors, defense, and clean energy.”
Despite being one of the world’s leading nickel producers, the Philippines has long relied on exporting unprocessed ores, limiting industrial expansion. Government officials said the agreement could help the country capture greater value from its resources while diversifying export markets.
Romualdez said strengthening mineral processing capacity will likely be a key area of cooperation, noting that nearly 90 percent of the country’s nickel output is currently shipped to China due to limited refining capability.
“That’s one area where I think we can have very good cooperation with the United States in the processing of our nickel,” he said, adding that the collaboration may also cover other minerals such as copper.
Under the agreement, the Philippines will gain access to technical and financial assistance from U.S. partners, including grants, feasibility studies, and joint geological mapping to modernize the mining sector.
The partnership is also expected to connect Philippine mineral exports to a network of more than 50 allied countries, potentially reducing reliance on a single export market while strengthening supply chain resilience.
