Manila restarts talks with Turkiye to boost trade
The Philippines has reopened bilateral talks with Turkiye as Manila seeks to narrow its ballooning trade deficit by boosting exports, easing market access issues and attracting more Turkish investments into the country.
These were among the points discussed during bilateral talks between Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo and Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Mustafa Tuzcu on April 28— the first such meeting between the two countries since the pandemic.
Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Turkiye stood at $365 million in 2025, with the trade balance in favor of Manila.
Still, both sides said the “potential and opportunities are far greater than what is currently enjoyed.”
As such, Philippine and Turkish trade officials emphasized the need for “win-win” trade.
As part of the talks, Manila committed to review antidumping duties imposed on certain Turkish flour exporters, which are set to expire in 2027. The Philippines is also processing the accreditation of Turkish poultry exports, with Turkiye now included among priority countries for inspection.
Turkiye also pitched its strengths in defense, infrastructure and construction, pointing to companies already operating in the Philippines such as defense electronics manufacturer Aselsan and infrastructure contractor Gülermak.
For its part, the Philippines expressed interest in Turkiye’s manufacturing capabilities, agri-food trade, transport infrastructure and halal cooperation.
Turkiye also reiterated its desire to become a full dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) during the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship in 2026, a move Manila said it supports.
Jaime Ramon Ascalon, the Philippines’ ambassador-designate to Turkiye, said the Philippines could serve as a gateway for Turkish firms seeking access to Southeast Asia.
“As Asean chair for 2026, we welcome this opportunity to connect Türkiye not only with the Philippines but with the Southeast Asian region as a whole,” Ascalon said. “The Philippines is more than welcome to assist with any business missions to our region to drive investment, improve supply chains, and expand market access.”
This renewed engagement also comes as Philippine officials grapple with a widening overall trade deficit, which had surged to around $50 billion in 2025 from about $5 billion a decade earlier.
Turkiye, for its part, pointed to the risks of lopsided trade, citing one trading partner from which it imports $45 billion worth of goods while exporting only $3 billion.
