The Philippine government has formed a technical working group (TWG) that would continue the discussions with the United States on its reciprocal tariff, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Secretary Frederick Go said.

In a Palace briefing Monday, Go said the TWG will continue meeting with United States Trade Representative (USTR) following the initial high-level meeting that was held between Manila and Washington DC on May 2.

“The technical working groups now will be the one to meet. In particular, if you want to know, it’s Undersecretary Allan Gepty of DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) that will be continuing with the discussions with his counterparts at the USTR office,” he said.

Go, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic czar, added the TWGs will be working on a framework for the future direction of the US-Philippines trade, which is expected to be completed before the 90-day reciprocal tariff pause lapses.

However, Go declined to provide further details of the framework due to the confidentiality of his recent meeting with the USTR.

“Hard for me to predict because there are two sides that need to get together to agree. This is not purely about what we want from our side. But there is that 90-day moratorium period, which I believe both sides will work towards coming up with a framework before that period is over,” Go said in mixed English and Filipino.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque also confirmed that there will be future meetings between the Philippines and the US to negotiate the latter’s reciprocal tariff rate on the former.

“The negotiation is a process. Not a one-time meeting,” Roque said in a Viber message.

PNA PHOTO