Farm products like rice became the Philippines' most highly protected commodities, as the bias of trade protection actually shifted from manufacturing to agriculture in the 1990s. - AFP
MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): The RCEP train has left without us, but by our own choice.
At the start of the year, the world's biggest regional economic pact to date, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), came into force. Oppositors fearing dire consequences from our joining the agreement have convinced our senators to sit on its ratification.
