MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Malacañang said that the Philippines is against forced labor, as it expressed optimism for a quick resolution to the Philippine-United States negotiation regarding the US’ imposition of a 12.5 percent tariff on Philippine goods due to forced labor issues.
“We need to be optimistic, we need to show that we do not violate the laws," Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
“With all the laws that we have, and the laws being implemented here in our country, we can say, we can prove to them that the accusation that we are into forced labor is wrong,” she added.
Castro said negotiations are ongoing, citing Philippine Trade Secretary Cris Roque’s statement that the Philippines’ labor laws and the government’s position against forced labor will be among the key issues discussed during the talks, and the country has many laws prohibiting forced labor that entail stiff penalties for violators.
“We have many laws against forced labor and we have penalties for employers who are caught practicing forced labor," she said. “There's no timeline yet but negotiations are ongoing, coordination are ongoing with the USTR (US Trade Representative).”
The US, under the Trump administration, imposed tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including the Philippines, citing concerns over the implementation and enforcement of measures prohibiting the importation of goods produced through forced labor.
