[SINGAPORE] The Philippines is steering Asean towards a new era of economic integration anchored by two early wins: a digital economy pact and a free-trade deal with Canada, which take centre stage amid a stacked economic line-up. The country’s Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary, Allan Gepty, told The Business Times in an exclusive interview that negotiations for the bloc’s landmark Digital Economy Framework Agreement (Defa) are targeted for completion in the first quarter of 2026, which would pave the way for its signing in November. Defa originated as a key strategy in the bloc’s post-pandemic recovery in a road map adopted in 2021, with the aim of driving inclusive digital transformation across the diverse region. Negotiations officially began in September 2023, and substantially concluded last October.   https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/inside-philippines-stacked-agenda-steer-aseans-trillion-dollar-economy (ICE SINGAPORE)

Fonte notizia: The Business Times, 6 January 2026