US: Corruption in Philippines a major barrier to tradeThe USTR said corruption issues are present in both national and local government agencies in the Philippines. MANILA, Philippines — Corruption continues to be a major hindrance to trade and investments in the Philippines, according to the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The USTR said corruption issues are present in both national and local government agencies in the Philippines. It said the Bureau of Customs (BOC), in particular, is beset with various corruption issues, including allegations of overt bribery. Despite the BOC’s attempts to address customs and corruption concerns, the USTR said reports of corruption and irregularities in customs processing are widespread.

Source: Philippine Star April 01, 2026 22:53 UTC