THE Philippines will push for the adoption of measures that will make it easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the duty-free privilege in accessing the different markets in the region, notably the revision of restrictive rules of origin (ROO) scheme, at the 43rd Asean Economic Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings this week in Manado, Indonesia. 

“We will be championing SMEs as a primary consideration in our international trade engagements, particularly on measures that will ease processes and procedures when availing tariff treatment,” Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo stressed on Thursday.

Domingo said he will ask Asean officials and technical working groups to explore the possibility of reducing or revising the ROO requirements for the export transactions of SMEs.

The ROO requires a certain percentage of local content for products before they could qualify for duty-free privileges in intra-Asean trade.

Also, Domingo said he will discuss the development of a “self-certification” option for exporters.

Self-certification is practiced in the European Union  and other developed economies where exporters, once certified by authorities to possess the capacity and competence, will be allowed to certify themselves in terms of ROO compliance and product shipments that qualify for preferential tariff rate under a free-trade agreement.

Asean member-states are currently getting support for capacity building projects for self-certification under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation technical assistance programs.

Asean officials will be recommending to the ministers that the region’s pilot project for self-certification be extended for another year to allow more Asean member-states to come onboard.

Domingo said the Department of Trade and Industry is “actively exploring all avenues to make it easier for Philippine SMEs to become successful exporters.”