The Philippine The Philippine struggle struggle against against

neoliberal neoliberal globalizationglobalization

By Teddy CasiñoBy Teddy CasiñoJuly 28, 2006July 28, 2006

Pop: 85 MPop: 85 M7,100 islands7,100 islandsColonized by Spain Colonized by Spain (400 years) and US (400 years) and US (44 years)(44 years)Vibrant people’s Vibrant people’s movement that has movement that has ousted two presidentsousted two presidentsStrong anti-imperialist, Strong anti-imperialist, anti-fascist tradition in anti-fascist tradition in the people’s the people’s movementmovementConstitution contains Constitution contains nominal protectionist nominal protectionist provisionsprovisions

Philippine FTAs and BITsPhilippine FTAs and BITs

3838 Bilateral Trade Agreements Bilateral Trade Agreements First with Pakistan in 1961First with Pakistan in 1961 Latest with Thailand in 1999Latest with Thailand in 1999 13 agreements made since 199413 agreements made since 1994

3737 Bilateral Investment Promotion and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection AgreementsProtection Agreements First with UK in 1980First with UK in 1980 Latest with Portugal in 2002Latest with Portugal in 2002 30 agreements made since 199430 agreements made since 1994

Standard contents of RP FTAsStandard contents of RP FTAs

MFN Treatment and ExemptionsMFN Treatment and Exemptions

Exceptions and SafeguardsExceptions and Safeguards

Payment ArrangementsPayment Arrangements

Trade PromotionTrade Promotion

Dispute ResolutionDispute Resolution

Joint Trade CommitteesJoint Trade Committees

But bulk of RP trade is with USA But bulk of RP trade is with USA and Japanand Japan which have no FTAswhich have no FTAs

USAUSA Bilateral trade agreement on tariff Bilateral trade agreement on tariff

concessions as part of RP’s ascension to concessions as part of RP’s ascension to GATT (1980)GATT (1980)

Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2002signed in 2002

FTA in initial phase of negotiationsFTA in initial phase of negotiations

Bulk of RP trade is with USA and Bulk of RP trade is with USA and JapanJapan

JapanJapan FTA currently being negotiated to include:FTA currently being negotiated to include:

• Trade in GoodsTrade in Goods• Rules of Origin Rules of Origin • Customs ProceduresCustoms Procedures• Paperless TradingPaperless Trading• Emergency MeasuresEmergency Measures• Trade in ServicesTrade in Services• Movement of Natural Movement of Natural PersonsPersons• InvestmentInvestment• Mutual RecognitionMutual Recognition

• Competition PolicyCompetition Policy• Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property• Gov’t ProcurementGov’t Procurement• CooperationCooperation• Improvement of theImprovement of the Business EnvironmentBusiness Environment• Dispute Avoidance and Dispute Avoidance and SettlementSettlement• General and Final General and Final ProvisionsProvisions

Neoliberal policies in RP stretch Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980sback to the 1980s70s and 80s70s and 80s – debt – debt

accumulation, debt accumulation, debt traptrap

Early 80s Early 80s – trade – trade liberalization under liberalization under IMF IMF (LOIs, MEPs)(LOIs, MEPs)

Early 90s Early 90s – structural – structural adjustment programs adjustment programs (liberalization, (liberalization, privatization, privatization, deregulation)deregulation)

Neoliberal policies in RP stretch Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980sback to the 1980sMid 90s Mid 90s – membership in – membership in

WTOWTO – – unprecedented, unilateral unprecedented, unilateral cuts in tariff ratescuts in tariff rates – – neoliberal policies are neoliberal policies are institutionalized (AGILE institutionalized (AGILE group funded by US-AID)group funded by US-AID)

19961996 – RP hosts APEC – RP hosts APEC Summit, globalization hailed Summit, globalization hailed as the “next wave to as the “next wave to development”development”

19971997 – Asian currency crisis, – Asian currency crisis, Charter change pushCharter change push

20042004 – fiscal crisis, renewed – fiscal crisis, renewed Cha-chaCha-cha

Neoliberal policies in RP stretch Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980sback to the 1980s

The Philippines became a dumping ground The Philippines became a dumping ground for excess goods and capital from for excess goods and capital from industrialized nations, a source of cheap industrialized nations, a source of cheap labor, raw materials and semi-labor, raw materials and semi-manufactures.manufactures.

With the Philippine economy one of the most With the Philippine economy one of the most liberalized in the ASEAN region, FTAs liberalized in the ASEAN region, FTAs have become almost superfluous. have become almost superfluous.

People’s People’s resistance to resistance to imperialist imperialist globalizationglobalization

Debt reduction campaigns (calls range from Debt reduction campaigns (calls range from repudiation, cancellation to cap on payments)repudiation, cancellation to cap on payments)

Anti-SAP campaignsAnti-SAP campaigns

People’s Campaign Against Imperialist People’s Campaign Against Imperialist Globalization (APEC meetings)Globalization (APEC meetings)

Junk WTO campaignJunk WTO campaign

WTO out of agricultureWTO out of agriculture

Food sovereigntyFood sovereignty

People’s People’s resistance to resistance to imperialist imperialist globalizationglobalization

Against large-scale, commercial miningAgainst large-scale, commercial miningAgainst dams and other “development projects”Against dams and other “development projects”For fair tradeFor fair tradeFor water accessFor water accessAgainst high power ratesAgainst high power ratesAgainst deregulation of oil industryAgainst deregulation of oil industryAnti charter change campaignAnti charter change campaign

The anti-The anti-neoliberal neoliberal campaigns are campaigns are closely linked closely linked to campaigns to campaigns against fascism against fascism and militarism and militarism (vs. imperialist (vs. imperialist plunder & war)plunder & war)

Forms of struggleForms of struggle

Propaganda and education Propaganda and education campaignscampaigns

Rallies and mass Rallies and mass demonstrationsdemonstrations

Networking and formation of Networking and formation of alliancesalliances

Participation in official Participation in official processesprocesses

Lobbying, negotiationsLobbying, negotiations Initiatives in CongressInitiatives in Congress Filing of court casesFiling of court cases

Armed struggle, peace talksArmed struggle, peace talks

International solidarity workInternational solidarity work

Some concrete gainsSome concrete gains

Stop/delay in mining operationsStop/delay in mining operationsStop/delay in “development projects”Stop/delay in “development projects”Stop/delay in privatization programsStop/delay in privatization programsConstitution has not been amended yetConstitution has not been amended yetCongressional investigationsCongressional investigationsMining Act declared unconstitutional but later Mining Act declared unconstitutional but later reversedreversedSome tariffs raisedSome tariffs raisedImperialist globalization is constantly under Imperialist globalization is constantly under challengechallenge

Problem areasProblem areas

How to popularize issues, broaden How to popularize issues, broaden resistance while raising the issues to the resistance while raising the issues to the anti-globalization, anti-imperialist levelanti-globalization, anti-imperialist levelHow to sustain mass mobilizationsHow to sustain mass mobilizationsStruggle against reformism and cooptationStruggle against reformism and cooptationDealing with big capitalists, landlords and Dealing with big capitalists, landlords and bureaucrats/politiciansbureaucrats/politiciansDealing with black propaganda and fascist Dealing with black propaganda and fascist attacksattacks