The Free Trade Agreement had already entered into force on 1 June 2018. However, due to internal procedures, the local authorities in the Philippines had so far been unable to apply it.
Preferential treatment in the Philippines for products originating in the EFTA States was therefore not guaranteed temporarily. Exporters and importers of originating products from an EFTA state were nevertheless encouraged to request preferential treatment for imports into the Philippines and to provide the necessary documents. This was also with a view to obtaining a possible repayment of the improperly levied import duties at a later date. The EFTA Member States and the EFTA Secretariat followed the situation closely and attempted to resolve the problem with the Philippines as soon as possible.
