Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia—The Philippines is set to gain broader market access, stronger supply chain links, and improved trade facilitation after Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque signed two landmark agreements at the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit on Saturday, October 25.
The upgraded deals—the ASEAN–China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol and the Second Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA)—advance President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to expand exports, create jobs, enhance product quality, boost sustainable trade, and strengthen regional resilience.
Under the ACFTA 3.0 Upgrade, ASEAN and China agreed to deepen cooperation in digital, green, and sustainable trade through improved customs procedures, harmonized standards, and greater transparency in trade measures. The upgrade, which builds on the 2002 framework implemented in 2010, introduces stronger consumer protection rules to promote fair competition and product safety in the ASEAN–China market.
The deal is also expected to benefit Filipino enterprises and consumers by enhancing trust in e-commerce and cross-border transactions through transparent and accountable trade practices. Cooperation will also extend to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to boost regional innovation.
Meanwhile, the ATIGA Second Protocol modernizes ASEAN’s main framework for the free flow of goods within the region. The new provisions cover remanufactured goods, trade and the environment, supply-chain connectivity, and trade during humanitarian crises. It also strengthens transparency and introduces faster, more practical mechanisms for resolving trade issues.
For the Philippines, the updated rules are expected to improve logistics and market efficiency, particularly in times of crisis. The new Trade in Crisis Situations (TICS) provisions will allow the use of scanned trade documents for essential goods like food, medicine, and relief items, expediting deliveries across borders during emergencies. Member States also give priority to each other so that the region’s needs during crisis are met immediately.
The ATIGA also includes new areas of cooperation on remanufactured goods and the environment, which ASEAN aims to promote as part of its sustainability agenda while boosting trade opportunities in this sector.
Secretary Roque said that the upgraded trade agreements will make regional commerce more responsive to the needs of Filipinos, particularly in times of need.
“These milestones show how ASEAN cooperation can directly benefit our people. By modernizing trade rules, promoting fair competition, and improving how goods move across borders even during emergencies, we can build an inclusive regional economy that supports growth, stability, and opportunity for all,” the trade chief added.
