It is business as usual for the trade and investment relations between the Philippines and China amid the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Lopez said the Philippine government has not canceled its commitment to participate in trade and investment expositions in China, but it will take “extra precautions” in traveling to the neighboring country.
The trade chief said the Philippines will send delegates to three big trade fairs in China happening in the second half of the year.
The trade head added the Philippines will participate in exhibitions this year in China, such as the China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning and China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen in September, as well as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai in November.
“We will continue with that, we are not canceling any schedules,” he said in Filipino. “It’s business as usual with extra precautions.”
“The 2019-nCoV may affect product demand.”
In terms of trade, Lopez said the 2019-nCoV may affect product demand, particularly in provinces where there are changes in consumer behavior.
“They still, go out to buy food and I’m sure the demand will still be there,” he said.
For imported Chinese food products, Lopez said the purchasing managers of importers have assured him that the products are safe and will not be a carrier of the new respiratory disease to infect people.
The DTI will still receive incoming business missions from China, but delegations have to follow some precautionary measures, he said.
“We release suggested protocols as we entertain incoming missions.”
“We release suggested protocols as we entertain incoming missions. We just have to do the necessary precautions in terms of masks, as we plan for this, if there is incoming [mission],” Lopez added.
To date, there are no scheduled visits from Chinese businessmen or trade officials to the Philippines, he said.
Lopez said the country’s commercial attachés based in China are now back in the Philippines because of the two-week Spring Festival holiday in China.
They will return to their posts in China after the break, he added.