DTI Mulls Loan Facility for US Tariff-Hit Exporters

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking at setting up a loan facility to help exporters facing challenges due to the United States' imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

- — Louella Desiderio

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told reporters on the sidelines of the ceremonial awarding of loans under the Turismo Asenso Loan Program (TALP) yesterday that the DTI is studying the launch of a loan facility for exporters, including big enterprises, affected by the US tariffs.

She said the loan facility could be established under the DTI's financing arm Small Business (SB) Corp.

"It's easy because the control of the SB Corp. is really with me because I'm the chairman. So it's easy for me to maneuver," she said.

Should the government establish the facility, she said there should be up to P3 billion worth of funding available for lending to exporters.

She said the amount, however, would depend on the available funds that can be provided under the SB Corp.

The SB Corp. has remaining funds amounting to P1.5 billion under its budget for this year.