US-PH FTA: Prospects for AgriBusiness in a Post COVID-19 Environment

AmCham Philippines

AmCham came to life in 1902 as the Manila Coffee Round Table and later as Manila Merchants Association. Incorporated in 1920, it has since then recognized and reconfirmed the commitment of American business to the development and welfare of the Philippines and the Filipino people.

This is a commitment of long-standing, as its mission statement declares:

The Chamber exists to serve the interests of U.S. businesses through the participation of members in promoting their long-term objectives while contributing to the civic and economic development of the Philippines.”

Event Details

AmCham member companies get two (2) complimentary passes which they must register here: https://bit.ly/amcham-agribusiness-june-29-webinar

Additional member company representatives and non-members may register through this page.

###

Summary:

The United States is the Philippines' second-biggest trading partner with total trade of around $30 billion. In 2017 (latest data available, exports reached $11.5 billion while imports totaled $18.1 billion. Trade deficit for U.S goods and services for the same year was at $6.7 billion.

These figures prompted US President Donald Trump to initiate the crafting of a Free Trade Agreement during his visit to the Philippines in November 2017. Exploratory talks between the two governments were done. However, the formality of the agreement will only happen when President Trump informs the Congress of its intentions for an FTA with the Philippines.

The U.S.-Philippine Foreign Trade Agreement will have an effect on many industries and AmCham businesses. In this regard, AmCham Agribusiness Committee would like to explore the FTAs prospects and future of Agribusiness concerning the items to be stipulated in the agreement.

Speaker

Allan Gepty

Assistant Secretary at Department of Trade and Industry

Atty. Allan B. Gepty is the current Assistant Secretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group of the Department of Trade and Industry. As of July 2019, he is also the concurrent director of the Bureau of International Trade Relations.

He is a lawyer with diverse experience in the field of litigation, commercial law, international trade, and intellectual property. He joined the Department of Trade and Industry as an Assistant Secretary for Industry Development and International Trade Policy in December 2018. Prior to his appointment, he was a Commissioner of the Philippine Tariff Commission. He also served as Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines from 2010 to 2017.

Before his stint in government, he was an active law practitioner, and consultants of various companies in business development, investments, and project integration. He also served as the Corporate Counsel and Asst. Corporate Secretary of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Technical Assistant for the Private Sector of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) from 2003 to 2009.

He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He finished his law degree from the San Beda College, Manila in 1997, and his Master of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce major in Economics from the same university, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1992. He is a recipient of the President Manuel L. Quezon Leadership Award and one of the Outstanding Alumni of the University of Santo Tomas, College of Commerce in the field of law in 2017.

He is a member of the academe teaching Public International Law, Intellectual Property Law and Corporate Law.

Additional Member Company Representatives

Use this ticket if you are registering additional representatives beyond the two (2) complimentary passes given to AmCham member companies

Standard Price: ₱300 + 10% | $6.00
-For online payments through credit card or Paypal, with an additional tariff due to service charge.

Standard Price₱300

Standard Price$6

Non-Members

For non-member company representatives or non-individual AmCham members

Standard Price: ₱1,000 + 10% | $22.00
-For online payments through credit card or Paypal, with an additional tariff due to service charge.

Standard Price₱1,000

Standard Price$22