Jun042014
Posted at 5:40 PM
As part of a week-long commercial diplomacy trip to the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker is in the Philippines to demonstrate the Obama administration's ongoing commitment to Asia. Along with members of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and a delegation of U.S. CEOs, she is visiting the country to strengthen trade and investment and encourage deeper business-to-business ties.
The United States and the Philippines share a $24 billion per year trade relationship, one that was further bolstered by President Obama’s recent trip to the country in April. Today, Secretary Pritzker met with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, and yesterday with Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, to build on that strong U.S.-Philippine relationship.
Secretary Pritzker congratulated President Aquino for his successful leadership and commended both Secretary Domingo and Secretary Purisima on the Philippines’ recent economic accomplishments and reforms, which have resulted in strong growth. In fact, the country has doubled its GDP growth rate from 3.6 percent in 2011 to 7.2 percent in 2013. In addition, Secretary Pritzker noted that the already strong trade relationship between the Philippines and the United States has continued to grow, with U.S. exports to the Philippines increasing over the past year.
During the meetings, Secretary Pritzker reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the country and the ASEAN region and discussed opportunities for U.S. companies to support the Philippines’ infrastructure development needs, including the Clark International Airport. She also talked about outstanding U.S.-Philippine trade issues and steps the country could take to become an even more attractive destination for U.S. investment.
Finally, Secretary Pritzker offered support to the Philippines for hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2015. Secretary Pritzker expressed her interest in the Philippines’ priorities for the conference and sought out avenues of cooperation to ensure that the nation’s host year will be successful.
All three meetings with President Aquino, Secretary Domingo, and Secretary Purisima concluded with a visit from the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council CEO delegation. Together, they discussed the importance of the Philippines to the U.S. public and private sectors.
The Philippines is one of America’s strongest allies in the Asia-Pacific, and the Obama Administration is firmly committed to deepening U.S. engagement with the ASEAN region.