Where to find information and data on the Philippine market?
Enterprises can independently search for information about the Philippine market through the following available and free tools:
TradeMap – ITC Trade Map (trademap.org):
This tool provides detailed trade statistics for individual countries, allowing users to identify key export and import products, competitors, and trade trends over time. TradeMap offers data on imports, exports, and tariffs for specific products between countries and their trading partners. Through TradeMap, users can analyze the export strengths and import demand of different markets as well as identify existing competitors.
The platform provides data by year, by HS codes at the 2-, 4-, or 6-digit level, and by value or percentage share. Users can extract information in the form of tables, charts, or maps, and filter data according to products, countries, product groups, or country groups.
MacMap – ITC Market Access Map (macmap.org):
This tool allows users to examine tariff and non-tariff barriers applied to a specific product exported from one market to another.
In terms of tariffs, MacMap provides information on WTO Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariffs, unilateral preferential tariffs (such as GSP), and preferential tariffs under bilateral and multilateral agreements, including Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
Regarding non-tariff measures, MacMap includes information on import quotas, trade remedy measures, certification requirements, and other non-tariff barriers.
Rule of Origin Facilitator – ITC Rules of Origin Database (findrulesoforigin.org):
This tool provides access to a comprehensive database of rules of origin across more than 350 trade agreements involving over 190 countries worldwide. Combined with tariff databases under FTAs, it serves as a useful tool for enterprises to understand rules of origin requirements needed to obtain preferential tariff treatment, thereby helping them take advantage of opportunities created by FTAs.
Tariff Analysis Online (TAO) – WTO (tao.wto.org):
This tool allows users to look up tariff rates (MFN, GSP, FTA, etc.) applied by a country to a specific product. TAO provides detailed tariff information at the tariff-line level according to each country’s HS classification system, as well as average tariff rates by product groups.
World Development Indicators (WDI) – World Bank
(https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators):
The WDI database includes more than 1,400 development indicators—such as GDP, population, labor, inflation, and exchange rates—covering 217 economies and more than 40 country groups over a period of more than 50 years. It is a valuable resource for enterprises seeking macro-level information about economic performance, demographics, inflation, unemployment, trade, and investment in individual countries or for conducting cross-country comparisons.
Philippine Bureau of Customs portal
(https://customs.gov.ph):
This portal provides official information on customs regulations, policies, and import–export procedures applicable in the Philippines.
Philippine Tariff Finder
(https://finder.tariffcommission.gov.ph/):
This tool allows users to search for applicable tariff rates for specific products imported into the Philippines. It also supports comparisons of preferential tariff rates under different FTAs and provides information on the rules of origin requirements needed to qualify for those tariff preferences.
Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI
