MANILA — The Philippines is “optimistic” that it can “prove” to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that the “accusation that we are into forced labor is wrong,” Malacañang said on Thursday.
The statement comes about two months since the Washington-based agency announced that a 12-percent tariff may be imposed against Manila for the unlawful labor practice. Manila had earlier asked Washington to reconsider the higher tariff rate, with the Philippine Department of Trade underscoring that “locally produced goods, including those exported to the US, do not rely on forced labor.”
“Marami po tayong batas na nagpapatunay na ito ay ipinagbabawal at ito ay may parusa kapag nahuli na nagkakaroon ang employers at nagpapatupad ng forced labor,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing.
“Kailangan natin maging optimistic, kailangan natin ipakita talaga na hindi tayo lumalabag sa batas,” she said.
“Siguro with all the laws that we have and the laws being implemented here in our country, we can say na, we can prove them na the accusation that we are into forced labor is wrong,” she added.
The Philippine government does not have timeline for its fresh tariff negotiations with the US, but the coordination with the USTR is a continuing effort, the Palace official said.
Earlier this year, the USTR announced that it would slap higher tariffs against the Philippines after a review showed that the Southeast Asian country is one of 54 nations that had weak enforcement mechanisms against items produced through forced labor, which the US has labeled as illegal and unfair for manufacturers producing through lawful labor conditions.