90-Day Tariff Pause to Help Recalibrate Phl Export Strategy

US President Donald Trump's 90-day tariff pause should be used as a period to strengthen the export sector, according to business groups.

- Louella Desiderio

Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines president Robert Young said the country could now take advantage of the 90-day pause by reevaluating how to shape up and improve its global competitiveness.

Young said the government and private sector must join hands and focus on major exports such as agricultural products, computer parts, minerals, machineries and manufactured items such as garment and apparel.

According to Young, the Philippines should also explore other potential markets aside from the US.

Last year, the US accounted for 17 percent of the Philippines' exports of goods.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said the 90-day pause is a time to look at the country's different exports and how it could compete with other countries.

"So we should look at our costs and see how we can compete," Ortiz-Luis said.

He said the government should also look at how it could provide support to the export sector as well as improve efficiency and ease of doing business.

"It is so hard to plan because of the uncertainties. We need to look at our policies and address red tape so that we can compete," Ortiz-Luis said.