Customs bribery a major barrier to investment in Phl – US report

Several United States firms doing business in the Philippines have reported being asked for bribes by customs officials, according to a 2025 State Department report, which mentions corruption at the Bureau of Customs as one of the major barriers to investment in the country.

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The US Embassy in Manila has received multiple reports from American businesses of customs officials soliciting unofficial fees, alongside complaints of overly invasive searches and inconsistent customs charges, the State Department said in its annual Investment Climate Statements report on the Philippines.

The report — released September 26 — evaluates the business environment and investment climate in countries around the world to guide American investors. The report ultimately finds that while the Philippines has taken steps to improve its investment climate, corruption remains a pervasive problem that deters foreign investors.