Philippine exports continued their strong momentum in October, sustaining double-digit growth as the country recovered from the effects of recent United States trade policies. According to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority, exports rose 19.4 percent year-on-year to $7.30 billion, up from $6.2 billion in the same month last year. October's performance followed a 16.2 percent increase in September, signaling steady recovery.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said officials remain committed to supporting export expansion by pursuing wider global markets for Philippine products. She noted that the 19 percent reciprocal tariff imposed by the United States on August 7 had temporarily slowed growth to 4.6 percent, but the U.S. continues to be the Philippines' top export destination, taking in $1.16 billion or 15.7 percent of total shipments.
Roque emphasized that the agriculture sector received crucial relief when certain products were exempted from U.S. tariffs. An executive order issued on November 14 by President Donald Trump excluded key goods such as coconut, tropical fruits, coffee, cocoa, spices, bananas, and selected fertilizers. Roque said strong global demand—especially for coconut products, pineapples, and mangoes—makes the exemption a significant boost for farmers and the broader agricultural industry.
Source: www.manilatimes.net
