Dennis Gaviola

Container vans stacked together are seen inside the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) compound in Manila on April 1, 2020. PPA general manager Atty. Jay Santiago said that Manila ports that serve as the “lungs” of the country’s commerce and trade are not functioning efficiently due to congestion. Santiago also stated that some containers inside their compound have not been withdrawn for more than 30 days already, even before the enhanced community quarantine was implemented. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

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.

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 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.

PH ‘optimistic’ on disproving USTR’s forced labor claim: Malacañang

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PH ‘optimistic’ on disproving USTR’s forced labor claim: Malacañang

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 06, 2026 06:08 PM PHT

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US Trade Representative

tariff

forced labor

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