Cambodia ready to export more rice to PHL By Samuel P. Medenilla
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S the country grapples with food supply issues, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has assured President Ferdinand Marcos that Phnom Penh is ready to export more rice and other goods to Manila to ensure the latter’s food security. The Cambodian state leader made the remark during his joint press conference with Marcos in Malacañang on Tuesday after the signing of eight PhilippinesCambodia Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on: taxes, information and communication technology (ICT), competition law,
technical vocational education, trafficking of cultural properties, investment promotion, tourism, and agriculture. “We are identifying new opportunities to boost trade and investment flows in agriculture. Cambodia stands ready to contribute to the Philippine food security through rice supply as well as many other food products,” Manet said at the event.
Important partner
MARCOS said he considers Cambodia as an “important partner” in ensuring the country’s food security especially after the signing of the MOU on Agricultural and Agribusiness Cooperation.
“I am pleased that we have come to an agreement to pursue stronger collaboration in agriculture and in agribusiness,” Marcos said. “Accordingly, I expressed my hope for both Filipinos and Cambodians in the agricultural sector to actively participate in various programs under this agreement,” he added. In 2023, the Philippines imported 2,500 tons of rice from Cambodia. It is the first time the former imported a significant quantity of rice from the latter since the signing of the Rice Tariffication Law in 2019. During the 50th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)Australia Special Summit last year, President Marcos said they are considering signing a rice sup-
ply agreement with Phnom Penh. Despite being a rice-producing country, the Philippines continues to import rice to meet domestic demand. In January, the Bureau of Plant Industry projected the country will import 4.8 million metric tons (MT) of rice this year.
More trade, people exchanges
ASIDE from agriculture, Marcos said business exchanges between Manila and Phnom Penh also extend to trade and tourism. At a business forum on Monday, local businesses met with their Cambodian counterparts to discuss possible collaborations. See “Cambodia,” A5
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TARIFF RISKS FLAGGED PHL exporters
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
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push market access in Middle East
VER 90 percent of exports of India, Thailand, China and the Philippines which are destined for the US are most at risk in Asia of being slapped higher reciprocal tariffs by US President Donald Trump, according to Japanbased think tank Nomura Asia.
“We present the share of Asian exports to the US that have a higher relative tariff rate based on 2-digit HS codes. This shows that over 90 percent of the exports of India, the Philippines, Thailand and China [destined for the US] have higher relative tariff rates and are therefore most at risk of higher reciprocal tariffs,” the Japanbased think tank noted. Nomura explained that by definition, reciprocal tariffs mean imposing the same tariff rate on imports from other countries as other countries impose on US exports. For instance, it noted, if India imposes a 25-percent tariff on US autos, then the US would impose a 25-percent tariff on imports of autos from India. The Japan-based think tank underscored that Trump’s objective of implementing reciprocal tariffs is to “ensure fair treatment for US exports, which could indirectly also address US trade imbalances with partner countries.” Among the 10 Asian countries included in Nomura’s study, the Philippines is the fourth most at risk of being subjected to higher reciprocal tariffs, based on 2-digit (Harmonized System) HS Codes. Based on Nomura’s AHS weighted average, at the country level, reciprocal tariffs are a bigger risk for emerging Asia than developed Asia, with India leading the pack as the most vulnerable due to its 9.5-percent weighted average tariff on US exports to India versus a 3-percent tariff rate on India’s exports to the US. See “Higher,” A5
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T least 26 Philippine exporters are participating in this month’s joint business mission of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Agriculture’s (DA) to the Middle East, which aims to expand market access of Philippine agricultural and fisheries exports. The DTI said in a statement on Tuesday it is leading a business mission to the Middle East with the Agriculture department from February 7 to 21. “The mission aims to expand market access and promote Philippine agricultural and fisheries exports and non-food products, while strengthening trade partnerships with Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates,” DTI said. The confirmed 26 Philippine exporters are joining this Outbound Business Matching Mission. DTI said these Philippine exporters are expected to gain direct access to buyers, distributors, and industry leaders in the region. “The delegation will present sourcing opportunities through store visits, supplier meetings, and business matching activities in Doha, Amman, Riyadh, and Dubai,” said DTI.
Market entry, compliance issues
CLEARING THE VOTE Personnel from the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) carry out a simultaneous “Oplan Baklas” operation across the city’s six districts on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, removing campaign paraphernalia that violate election rules. The operation is part of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) directive to clear public spaces of illegally posted materials ahead of the upcoming elections. NONOY LACZA
PER the DTI, Philippine exporters will meet with key regulatory bodies, such as the Qatar Ministry of Public Health and the Saudi Food See “PHL,” A2
7-M PINOYS TRAVEL ABROAD IN ‘24; HK, SG, JAPAN TOP LIST By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)
Special to the BusinessMirror
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XECUTIVE coach Nikka P. Villamin has just arrived from a four-day family trip to Hong Kong. It’s a destination she has been going to since she was seven years old. Now that she is 38, married, and has a four-year-old son, Villamin says she still prefers traveling there because it is less expensive, familiar, and offers a lot of familyfriendly sights. “Hong Kong is one of our favorite destinations. This time of the year, it’s quite cold— like it was 9-15 degrees [Celsius] the past three days—a good alterSee “Pinoys,” A2
Notice is hereby given that the following companies/Employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s: ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.
NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION
QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE
ALI MAKATI HOTEL PROPERTY, INC. (FAIRMONT RAFFLES HOTEL MAKATI) 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Ave. Cor. A. Arnaiz Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati SEIDLITZ, SOPHIA MARIE F&b Quality Assurance Specialist 1.
Brief Job Description: Continuous improvement and quality focus of the food & beverages and achievement of targets in relation to quality assurance.
Basic Qualification: Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in a 5-star hotel. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
See “dole ncr” on A6-A8
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 58.1190 n JAPAN 0.3824 n UK 71.9106 n HK 7.4621 n CHINA 7.9570 n SINGAPORE 42.8828 n AUSTRALIA 36.4697 n EU 59.9149 n KOREA 0.0400 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.4984 Source: BSP (February 11, 2025)