For a brief moment this year, the Philippines had something rare in the cutthroat world of trade policy: an edge over its Southeast Asian neighbors. When U.S. President Donald Trump rolled out his first volley of tariffs in April, Manila’s exporters got off relatively lightly with a 17% levy—less than half of what Cambodia and […]

When news broke that Philippine exports would face a 19% tariff entering the United States—while American goods would enter the Philippines tariff-free—it was met with understandable frustration. Social media buzzed with disbelief: “Bakit ganun? Lugi tayo ah.” For many Filipinos, the optics were clear—unequal and unfair. From business groups to small exporters and everyday workers, […]

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Tuesday urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize 20 key legislative measures in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), highlighting reforms aimed at digital transformation, infrastructure planning, and regulatory modernization to boost the country’s global competitiveness. In a formal communication sent to Malacañang ahead […]

For once, the tax system favors the many over the few. The flat 20% levy on interest income, introduced under the Capital Market Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA), doesn’t punish savers—it puts an end to years of built-in advantages that let the wealthy lock away capital and enjoy lower tax rates. Contrary to the social media […]

For years, global trade was the default engine of growth. But as we pass the midpoint of 2025, it’s sputtering badly—and not because of any natural cooling. This slowdown is man-made, self-inflicted, and increasingly perilous. According to the World Bank, global trade growth is forecast to decelerate from 3.4% in 2024 to just 1.8% in […]

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, is calling for stricter enforcement of rules in the country’s electricity spot market and greater billing transparency by power retailers. The group warned that persistent payment defaults by some members of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) are distorting market operations and […]

A new report from Singapore-based fintech firm ROSHI has raised alarms about the growing credit card debt crisis in the Philippines, with consumer debt reaching levels described as “critical.” According to the findings, Filipino cardholders are carrying an average balance of S$2,092, while the typical monthly income is just S$492.26. This results in a staggering […]

Hotel101 Global Holdings Corporation became the first Filipino-owned company to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq, debuting with an Opening Bell ceremony in New York on Friday, June 27. Now trading under the ticker “HBNB,” the tech-driven hospitality platform is built for global scale, offering standardized hotel units through a proprietary, asset-light model. The […]

The Philippines has joined 67 jurisdictions—including 10 in Asia—in committing to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) by 2027 or 2028, marking a major step toward regulating digital assets and curbing tax evasion linked to cross-border crypto flows. The Department of Finance (DOF) made the commitment during the 8th […]

Lockheed Martin is tying its offer of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to a bold plan to boost local jobs, train Filipino workers, and build up the Philippines’ defense industry — a move that could accelerate the country’s push for military self-reliance and high-tech growth. The U.S. defense contractor has proposed setting up in-country maintenance, […]