Philippines-Vietnam US$10 billion trade push risks running into rice politics
Manila’s rice import curbs, tariff uncertainty and a standing trade imbalance are testing commercial ties
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[MANILA] The Philippines’ push to lift bilateral trade with Vietnam to an ambitious US$10 billion for 2026 is running straight into an operational roadblock: Manila desperately needs Vietnamese rice to shore up its domestic supplies, but its habit of abruptly rewriting procurement rules is fracturing the trading corridor.
This policy volatility is testing the commercial boundaries of the relationship, just when political momentum is gaining steam. During the recent state visit of Vietnamese President To Lam to Manila, the two nations elevated their ties to an “enhanced strategic partnership”.
Yet, behind the diplomatic warmth, actual commerce is being stifled by a persistent trade imbalance, contract disputes, import policy swings on rice, and technical barriers that complicate planning for Vietnamese exporters.
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