Our top priority: Trade and security

We have our work cut out for us in Washington as we hit the ground running, so to speak. Shortly after I arrived in D.C., I presented my credentials to the State Department Protocol Office and a day after, to President Trump at the White House. My conversation with the US President lasted for about 10 minutes, wherein he was very pleased to talk about his Manila visit. He also reiterated his support for “President Rodrigo” and the Philippines. It worked out well that I met President Trump informally first during the 31st ASEAN summit. During the send-off at NAIA following his visit, I wished the US president a safe trip before he boarded Air Force One, and he replied that he was looking forward to seeing me in Washington.

I find it rather opportune that my first official working day as Philippine Ambassador to Washington saw delegations from both countries conducting discussions on a wide range of economic issues under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement or TIFA, among them to explore the potential for a bilateral free trade agreement. The TIFA is a consultative mechanism that was established for the purpose of periodically reviewing the status of the bilateral economic relationship between the Philippines and the United States. It also serves as a forum wherein specific issues and concerns that are of interest to both countries are addressed in order to improve cooperation and provide opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investments.

The Philippine Trade delegation was led by Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo with other officials from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the DFA. Leading the US delegation to the TIFA meeting was Assistant US Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Karl Ehlers.

First held in 2002, the TIFA meeting is conducted annually. That this most recent one came two weeks after the successful bilateral meeting between Presidents Trump and Duterte during the recent ASEAN Summit in Manila clearly shows that both countries are deeply committed to strengthening our long-standing partnership and enhancing mutual prosperity in the process.

The US happens to be the third biggest trading partner of the Philippines (out of 226 trading partners) in 2016, and is the third largest investor to the Philippines. It is the second biggest market for our exports (out of 213 export markets), accounting for almost 16 percent of total Philippine exports. Total bilateral trade was valued at $16.43 billion, in favor of the Philippines.

Prior to my formal assumption of duties as Philippine Ambassador to the US, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano also impressed upon me the importance of building on the success of his recent visit to Washington together with the Duterte administration’s economic managers, and follow up on mutual efforts to advance the core economic interests of both countries.

The two-day 7th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue held at the State Department on 30 November to 01 December was extremely successful. Our discussions touched on defense and security, regional and global diplomatic engagement, the rule of law and economic development. We have here with us a delegation from the Philippines representing almost all Departments – from the Department of Foreign Affairs headed by Usec Manalo, the Department of National Defense with Usec David, Department of Trade and Industry with Usec Ceferino Rodolfo, to the Department of Justice with Usec Antonio Kho, along with participants from other agencies.

I had the opportunity to meet US Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Asia Dianne Farrell, who handles all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia. DAS Farrell also oversees the planning and execution of commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at US missions in the Asian region.

I was very happy to see Dr. Gloria Steele, the Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia in the US Agency for International Development (USAID), whom I first met in Manila in 2013 when she was USAID Philippines mission director. Dr. Steele is a Filipino-American with an impressive track record in development work. We are especially grateful for the immediate assistance she gave to the people of Leyte after the devastation wrought by super typhoon Yolanda. She was literally God sent.

She testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific in July on the vital role that the USAID plays in advancing the US foreign policy priorities in East Asia and the Pacific and how development – along with diplomacy and defense – is indispensable to US national security and economic interests. Being the most populous and fastest-growing economic region in the world, Asia is acknowledged as a main driver of global economic growth.

In her testimony on the Philippines, Dr. Steele said that “USAID is intensifying ongoing programs to address drivers of radicalization to violence, disrupt ISIS recruitment and erode support for ISIS,” referencing the attack on Marawi City by terrorists seeking to increase the influence of ISIS and establishing its territory in the region.

The discussions during the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue were definitely dynamic, productive and encouraging, with both sides strongly committed on strengthening the robust partnership between the United States and the Philippines. As I said, our work is cut out for us and I am extremely pleased to do my part for our country. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind we will succeed with the support of our excellent Philippine embassy staff in Washington, D.C.

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