Sustaining Trade Liberalization and Reforms in the Philippines

Abstract

A number of factors affecting the long-term sustainability of trade liberalization and reforms are identified in this paper in the context of Philippine experience. It is indicated that none of the liberalization attempts had been undertaken to achieve true structural reform and that a narrow understanding of it especially among policymakers has accounted for the lack of support from a broad sector. What it important for starting trade liberalization, according to the study, is an active participation of various interest groups, between short-term and long-term, and between comparative advantage and self-sufficiency.