FREE TRADE REGIMES such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community (AEC) have ushered in zero to minimal tariffs for the export of goods and services, but non-tariff measures have become more pronounced, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said yesterday.
These are often more expensive and challenging as they come in various forms and charges,” said Ma. Flordeliza C. Leong, assistance vice-president of Philexport’s advocacy and communications department during a forum on tariff liberalization yesterday at the Asian Institute of Management yesterday.
She said local exporters have become “apprehensive” of AEC because they see their products as more expensive than those offered by their counterparts in the ASEAN.
She said Philexport was looking at measures to prepare exporters for regional integration including the identification of specific products that are competitive in the region in terms of pricing.
Business World: Non-tariff barriers hounding trade in region
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