UK and Philippines Strengthen Ties with Joint Economic and Trade Committee Announcement

On Tuesday, 22nd September 2026, a significant meeting took place in Metro Manila as the United Kingdom and the Philippines convened for their second Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) session. The gathering was chaired by Anas Sarwar, the UK Minister of State for Trade from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, alongside Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty of the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry.

The discussions resulted in the endorsement of a revitalised work programme aimed at enhancing collaboration across various sectors, including agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and economic development. Additionally, they explored potential partnerships in areas such as grid modernisation, civil nuclear energy, trade digitalisation, and space exploration.

Strengthening Agricultural Links

During the meeting, Minister Sarwar and Undersecretary Gepty underscored the strong cooperative ties between the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture and the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). This collaboration encompasses capacity building in areas such as precision breeding, antimicrobial resistance, fisheries, and food safety. Notably, they are supporting the development of regionalisation guidelines for African Swine Fever in the Philippines, which are crucial for safeguarding UK pork exports.

Building on these achievements, both parties agreed to further their cooperation in facilitating market access for key agricultural exports and to expand their collaboration into aquaculture, biotechnology, animal and plant health, and climate-resilient agriculture. They also expressed their commitment to formalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agriculture Trade and Cooperation, thereby consolidating all agricultural initiatives under a dedicated framework.

Advancing Energy Collaboration

Recognising the significance of energy cooperation amid their respective energy transition plans and the challenges currently impacting energy security, Minister Sarwar and Undersecretary Gepty acknowledged the continued support from the UK in developing offshore wind regulations and policy. They also discussed promoting market opportunities for port development in the Philippines.

Both sides expressed interest in exploring cooperation in civil nuclear energy, particularly in radioactive waste management. Furthermore, initiatives concerning grid modernisation, including smart grids and microgrids, are set to be included in the upcoming programme of work.

Infrastructure Financing Framework

Progress was also made in the infrastructure sector, with the UK and the Philippines acknowledging the Sector Working Group’s efforts to finalise a Financing Framework. This framework is scheduled for signing on 23rd September 2026 and will enable UK Export Finance (UKEF) to consider support for priority infrastructure projects within the Philippine government. Currently, UKEF has a capacity of up to £5 billion available for eligible projects in the region.

Additionally, the Philippines recognised the advancement of technical assistance projects under the Growth and Investment Partnerships Framework, which includes feasibility studies and policy frameworks. There was also a mutual interest in renegotiating the Double Taxation Agreement to align with modern international standards and current economic realities.

Fostering Economic Development

In terms of economic development, both nations noted the successful completion of key cooperative activities in cybersecurity, health technology assessment, regulatory reform, and consumer protection. They welcomed new initiatives aimed at increasing the utilisation of the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) and enhancing Philippine exporters’ preparedness to access the UK market through trade promotion, business matchmaking, and technical exchanges regarding market access requirements.

With a current DCTS utilisation rate of 68% for 2025, both parties recognised the potential to improve this figure while also introducing more liberal rules of origin for garments. Moreover, they committed to ongoing cooperation in health technology assessment and economic and financial policy exchanges under the UK-ASEAN Economic Integration Programme.

Exploring Emerging Opportunities

Looking towards the future, Minister Sarwar and Undersecretary Gepty agreed to investigate opportunities for collaboration in emerging sectors such as space and trade digitalisation. They acknowledged that the work programme is dynamic and may be adapted as priorities and activities evolve. Regular exchanges on multilateral and regional trade issues, including economic security and developments in the green sector, will be undertaken at the Senior Officials’ level.

Trade and Economic Engagement Overview

In terms of economic engagement, total trade in goods and services between the UK and the Philippines reached £3.1 billion in the four quarters leading up to the end of Q1 2026, comprised of £1.3 billion in UK exports and £1.8 billion in imports from the UK.

In light of the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership this year, Minister Sarwar and Undersecretary Gepty welcomed the updated Work Plan and the new Joint Ministerial Declaration resulting from the sixth ASEAN Economic Ministers-UK Consultation. The Philippines also acknowledged the UK’s support for its Priority Economic Deliverables under its 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship, particularly regarding the establishment of the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries.

Furthermore, the Philippines congratulated the UK on completing its Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) accession process with Canada on 1st September 2026, thus finalising its accession with all CPTPP parties. The Philippines expressed gratitude for the UK’s support regarding its application to form a CPTPP Accession Working Group.

Engagement with the Business Community

Prior to the JETCO meeting, Minister Sarwar and Undersecretary Gepty hosted a roundtable discussion with business leaders, providing a platform for the private sector to voice their challenges, opportunities, and priorities for enhancing the bilateral trade and investment relationship. They appreciated the insights shared by the business community and affirmed the importance of ongoing government-business engagement in identifying tangible opportunities to strengthen economic ties between the United Kingdom and the Philippines.