Trade perks help introduce Cebuano products to EU

A European Business group said that the Trade Perks granted by the European Union to the Philippines helped introduce Cebu-made products to Europe.

The EU extends its help to developing countries like Philippines through Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+), an incentive that allows the Philippines to export more than 6000 goods to Europe with zero tariffs.

The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) chair, Guenter Taus said that the furniture industry in Cebu benefited from the tax-free trade. “The first step was to develop the materials, and then we export semi-finished products. Now, we get to more and more finished products and then we bring it out to the world market,” he expounded.

Taus added that the ECCP wants to transport more “arts and crafts” products from the Philippines to Europe. He is hoping to introduce more of what Cebu has to offer. ECCP also aims to bring more European tourists to Cebu. “I still believe we have beautiful resorts here, beautiful underwater world, beautiful mountains, and nobody has really recognized that yet in Europe,” he uttered.

EU had kept its vow to help the Philippines despite the Duterte Administration’s rejection to its aid last month.