EU-PHILIPPINES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) In “A Stronger Europe in the World” Status: Announced Type: International Agreement International Agreement Package: Other free trade agreements Other free trade agreements Standing rapporteurs(s) EU-AUSTRALIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT EU-INDONESIA COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT (CEPA) EU-PHILIPPINES FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA) Negotiations for an EU-Philippines trade and investment agreement were launched on 22 December 2015 . The second round of negotiations between the EU and the Philippines took place in February 2017, but the talks were then put on hold. In July 2023, the EU and the Philippines announced their intention to begin an extensive technical stocktaking exercise with a view to assess if conditions were right for potentially resuming negotiations for an FTA. The EU and the Philippines announced the resumption of negotiations for the FTA in March 2024. Since then, three negotiating rounds have taken place. The 6th - and most recent - round of negotiations took place in Pasay city (the Philippines) from 18 to 22 May 2026. The round focused on market access discussions and advancing in the consolidation of the text. According to media, the Philippines is pushing for the conclusion of the negotiations before November 2026, by the ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit scheduled on 10-12 November, when Manila will hand over the organization's chairmanship to Singapore. On 24 July 2026 in Manila, the EU and the Philippines signed the EU-Philippines Enhanced Partnership in which they underlined shared commitment to conclude the FTA negotiations as soon as possible. . Back to the first round of negotiations, it took place between 14 and 18 October 2024 in Brussels. The topics that were covered during that round include Transparency, Sustainable Food Systems, Trade Remedies, Services, Competition and subsidies, Customs and Trade Facilitation, an Anti-Fraud clause, Trade in Goods, Digital Trade, Intellectual Property Rights, Geographical Indications, Rules of Origin, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Good Regulatory Practices; State Enterprises, Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary measures, Trade and Sustainable Development, Mutual Administrative Assistance, Dispute Settlement and Exceptions. During the round, the parties focused on clarifying each side’s positions, with text-based discussions aiming at identifying areas of convergence and divergence. The second negotiating round on the FTA was held between 10 and 14 February 2025 in Manila. Negotiations continued on several chapters. They were broadly concluded for the chapters on Transparency and Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and Sustainable Food Systems (SFS). In May 2025, EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro cited the importance of speedily concluding negotiations for the FTA without compromising quality in the face of recent events, including the new US tariffs US tariff measures. The Ambassador also announced that both parties aim to include a digital trade chapter in the FTA. The 3rd round of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and the Philippines took place between 16 and 20 June 2025 in Brussels. The negotiations were substantially concluded for the chapters on Sustainable Food Systems (SFS) and General Regulatory Practices (GRP), adding to the chapters closed in earlier rounds (MSMEs, Transparency, Anti-Fraud Clause). According to Reuters, on 25 September 2025, EU Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting gathering the economic ministers of the ASEAN and its trading partners in Kuala Lumpur, stated that he expected the EU to finalise and sign trade deals with Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia by 2026. The 4th round of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and the Philippines took place between 20 and 24 October 2025 in Cebu (the Philippines). The Commission negotiation report notes that, following discussions on several topics, negotiations were substantially concluded for the chapter on Trade in Sustainable Development and the protocol on Mutual Administrative Assistance, adding to the chapters closed in earlier rounds (MSMEs, Transparency, Anti-Fraud Clause, Sustainable Food Systems and Good Regulatory Practices). The 5th round of negotiations - took place in Brussels in the week 2-6 March 2026, following intersessional meetings. During the round, negotiations were substantially concluded for the following chapters: SPS measures, the Institutional Provisions, TBT, as well as on the Car Annex and the Code of Conduct for Panellists and mediators (State-to-State disputes). In its 2016 resolution supporting the EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation, the European Parliament welcomed the opening of open negotiations on a FTA; considered it appropriate that the Commission and the Philippine authorities ensure high standards on human rights, labour and the environment; underscored that such an FTA should serve as a building block towards a region-to-region EU-ASEAN agreement on trade and investment which can be restarted in parallel. A delegation from the European Parliament’s INTA committee travelled to the Philippines in February 2026 to discuss trade relations. In 2024, the EU was the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner , accounting for 7% of the country’s total trade in goods. The Philippines was the EU’s 39th largest trading partner, accounting for 0.3% of the EU’s total trade in goods. Bilateral trade in goods between the EU and the Philippines amounted to €16.8 billion in 2024 (with a deficit for the EU of €1.3 bn). Total trade in services amounted to €8.5 billion in 2023 (with a deficit for the EU of €0.4 billion). In 2023, the stock of EU foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Philippines amounted to €14.2 billion and the stock of Philippine FDI in the EU was €2.1 billion. EEAS, Philippines: Press statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas following the signing ceremony of the EU-Philippines Enhanced Partnership , Press release, 24 July 2026 European Parliament, EU-Philippines Framework Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation (resolution) , 8 June 2016 European Commission and High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy, The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific , 16 September 2019 European Commission, Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in support of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the European Union and the Philippines , Final Report, 4 October 2022 European Commission, EU and the Philippines to start scoping exercise for a free trade agreement , Press release, 31 July 2023 European Commission , EU and the Philippines announce resumption of negotiations for a free trade agreement , Press release, 18 March 2024 European Parliament, International Trade committee MEPs conclude visit to the Philippines , Press release, 18 February 2026 European Commission, EU trade relations with the Philippines. Facts, figures and latest developments European Commission, Round Reports European Commission, Textual proposals Further reading: European Parliament, EPRS, Trade negotiations between the EU and ASEAN member states , Briefing, December 2023 Author: Enrico D'Ambrogio, Members' Research Service, legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu We have sent you an email containing a link that will allow you to validate the subscription. If you have not received that email, make sure to check your spam folder. Otherwise, please contact legislative-train@europarl.europa.eu Status type: Legislative initiatives - by the European Parliament Style: Description: Files with 'Legislative initiative' status represent explicit demands to the European Commission for a proposal for new EU legislation expressed by the European Parliament in plenary following a legislative-initiative report (INL). Only INL procedures based on Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union can have this status. Legislative initiatives - by the European Parliament Files with 'Legislative initiative' status represent explicit demands to the European Commission for a proposal for new EU legislation expressed by the European Parliament in plenary following a legislative-initiative report (INL). Only INL procedures based on Article 225 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union can have this status. Status type: Announced - forthcoming initiatives Style: Description: Files with 'Announced' status are initiatives expected from the European Commission – in particular legislative proposals – which will contribute to the implementation of the Commission’s priorities. Most such files are announced in the Political Guidelines (of the incoming Commission at the start of the mandate), in the Commission President's yearly State of the Union speech and accompanying letter of intent, or in the annual Commission work programme. Planned legislative proposals may also be announced in a strategy, communication or action plan adopted by the Commission, sometimes with an anticipated date of publication. A few non-legislative files (communications from the European Commission) can also be found with this status. These either announce future legislative activity or are of major political importance.

Announced - forthcoming initiatives Files with 'Announced' status are initiatives expected from the European Commission – in particular legislative proposals – which will contribute to the implementation of the Commission’s priorities. Most such files are announced in the Political Guidelines (of the incoming Commission at the start of the mandate), in the Commission President's yearly State of the Union speech and accompanying letter of intent, or in the annual Commission work programme. Planned legislative proposals may also be announced in a strategy, communication or action plan adopted by the Commission, sometimes with an anticipated date of publication. A few non-legislative files (communications from the European Commission) can also be found with this status. These either announce future legislative activity or are of major political importance. Status type: Tabled - proposals submitted to Parliament by the Commission Style: Description: Once Parliament has received a legislative proposal – or significant non-legislative initiative – and is able to start its consideration, the file takes the status 'Tabled'. The move to this status from 'announced' represents a significant change, going from a planned initiative, entirely in the hands of the Commission, to a formal proposal dependent – for its amendment and adoption – on the legislator (in most cases, under the ordinary legislative procedure, the Parliament and Council jointly). Tabled - proposals submitted to Parliament by the Commission Once Parliament has received a legislative proposal – or significant non-legislative initiative – and is able to start its consideration, the file takes the status 'Tabled'. The move to this status from 'announced' represents a significant change, going from a planned initiative, entirely in the hands of the Commission, to a formal proposal dependent – for its amendment and adoption – on the legislator (in most cases, under the ordinary legislative procedure, the Parliament and Council jointly). Status type: Close to adoption - legislative procedure nearly completed Style: Description: The status 'Close to adoption' applies to files for which the legislative procedure will shortly be finalised. In the case of the ordinary legislative procedure, this means that the European Parliament and Council have concluded interinstitutional negotiations (trilogue) and reached a provisional agreement on the text. Such provisional agreements need still to be formally adopted by the two institutions. Close to adoption - legislative procedure nearly completed The status 'Close to adoption' applies to files for which the legislative procedure will shortly be finalised. In the case of the ordinary legislative procedure, this means that the European Parliament and Council have concluded interinstitutional negotiations (trilogue) and reached a provisional agreement on the text. Such provisional agreements need still to be formally adopted by the two institutions. Status type: Blocked - proposals proceeding slowly or stalled Style: Description: Files take on the status 'Blocked' when there has been no progress over at least the previous nine months. In particular, when one or other co-legislator has not formally started work on a proposal more than nine months after it was tabled, or when no activity on the proposal has been recorded in either the Council or Parliament for at least nine months. In addition, where the Commission has announced an initiative would be tabled on a certain date, but more than nine months after that date the initiative has not been tabled, the file moves to this status. Blocked - proposals proceeding slowly or stalled Files take on the status 'Blocked' when there has been no progress over at least the previous nine months. In particular, when one or other co-legislator has not formally started work on a proposal more than nine months after it was tabled, or when no activity on the proposal has been recorded in either the Council or Parliament for at least nine months. In addition, where the Commission has announced an initiative would be tabled on a certain date, but more than nine months after that date the initiative has not been tabled, the file moves to this status. Status type: Adopted/Completed - legislation adopted or discussion ended Style: Description: Once a legislative proposal is formally adopted, and has been signed by the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council (or just the latter if a special legislative procedure applies), the file moves to 'Adopted/Completed' status. In the case of non-legislative initiatives from the Commission, this status applies once the debate is finished – for example, once Parliament has adopted a resolution on a Commission communication, or once the Commission has tabled all the legislative proposals announced in the communication concerned. A Parliament legislative initiative takes this status once the Commission has responded formally. Adopted/Completed - legislation adopted or discussion ended Once a legislative proposal is formally adopted, and has been signed by the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council (or just the latter if a special legislative procedure applies), the file moves to 'Adopted/Completed' status. In the case of non-legislative initiatives from the Commission, this status applies once the debate is finished – for example, once Parliament has adopted a resolution on a Commission communication, or once the Commission has tabled all the legislative proposals announced in the communication concerned. A Parliament legislative initiative takes this status once the Commission has responded formally. Status type: Withdrawn - legislative proposal tabled but subsequently withdrawn Style: Description: Files with 'Withdrawn' status are previously tabled proposals that have been officially withdrawn by the European Commission, namely once the withdrawal is published in the Official Journal. Withdrawn - legislative proposal tabled but subsequently withdrawn Files with 'Withdrawn' status are previously tabled proposals that have been officially withdrawn by the European Commission, namely once the withdrawal is published in the Official Journal. Name: TRAIN Description: Represents a main priority of the European Commission (i.e. one of the six priorities of the von der Leyen Commission (2019-2024), or ten priorities of the Juncker Commission (2014-2019)). A train is composed of a number of files – both legislative and non-legislative – each of which are also known as CARRIAGES. Separate trains cover all the files assigned to each parliamentary committee (please see EP Committees). Represents a main priority of the European Commission (i.e. one of the six priorities of the von der Leyen Commission (2019-2024), or ten priorities of the Juncker Commission (2014-2019)). A train is composed of a number of files – both legislative and non-legislative – each of which are also known as CARRIAGES. Separate trains cover all the files assigned to each parliamentary committee (please see EP Committees). Name: CARRIAGE Description: Equals a legislative or non-legislative file which forms part of a train. A carriage may cover more than one file in rare cases of technical adjustments or minor changes to existing files. Equals a legislative or non-legislative file which forms part of a train. A carriage may cover more than one file in rare cases of technical adjustments or minor changes to existing files. Name: PACKAGE Description: Represents a group of legislative and/or non-legislative files, based on the indications of the European Commission. A package may, for example, cover all files published under a strategy or an action plan. The grouping always reflects the way the Commission has organised it. Represents a group of legislative and/or non-legislative files, based on the indications of the European Commission. A package may, for example, cover all files published under a strategy or an action plan. The grouping always reflects the way the Commission has organised it. Name: STATUS Description: Indicates the level of advancement of legislative work on a file. There are seven statuses which a given file may take on during the time it goes through the legislative process. Indicates the level of advancement of legislative work on a file. There are seven statuses which a given file may take on during the time it goes through the legislative process. Name: EC PRIORITY Description: Politically defined priority set at the beginning of each European Commission mandate (i.e. the six priorities of the von der Leyen Commission, ten priorities of the Juncker Commission). Each priority is represented by a TRAIN composed of separate files known as CARRIAGES. Politically defined priority set at the beginning of each European Commission mandate (i.e. the six priorities of the von der Leyen Commission, ten priorities of the Juncker Commission). Each priority is represented by a TRAIN composed of separate files known as CARRIAGES. Name: EP COMMITTEES Description: A list of legislative and non-legislative files assigned to a parliamentary committee. In total, 19 standing committees are represented on this website. A list of legislative and non-legislative files assigned to a parliamentary committee. In total, 19 standing committees are represented on this website. Name: IN THE SPOTLIGHT Description: Important files grouped under a separate heading indicating a European policy priority, a major current topic or any other theme that is key for European policy. IN THE SPOTLIGHT Important files grouped under a separate heading indicating a European policy priority, a major current topic or any other theme that is key for European policy. Name: SCHEDULE Description: General table presenting TRAINS (within EC Priorities or EP Committees) in a summarised form with relevant statistical data by STATUS. Landing page of the website. General table presenting TRAINS (within EC Priorities or EP Committees) in a summarised form with relevant statistical data by STATUS. Landing page of the website. Name: PROCEDURE Description: Indicates procedure number which helps to find files quickly (e.g. 2021/XXXX(COD), 2020/XXXX(CNS), 20219/XXXX(APP)...) Indicates procedure number which helps to find files quickly (e.g. 2021/XXXX(COD), 2020/XXXX(CNS), 20219/XXXX(APP)...) Name: COMMISSION WORK PROGRAMME Description: Allows to choose all the files presented in the annual Commission work programme, for each year since 2019. COMMISSION WORK PROGRAMME Allows to choose all the files presented in the annual Commission work programme, for each year since 2019. Information error