Rappler's latest stories on Department of Trade and Industry
Palace says DTI or DepEd should issue film production guidelines – not FDCP
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque himself points out that the FDCP has no regulatory powers

PM is not the key: DTI tells online sellers to post prices
Online vendors must display prices instead of telling their customers to send private messages first, says the Department of Trade and Industry
Salons may reopen soon, but health measures must be in place
Barbershop and salon employees show that they can safely cut hair by wearing protective wear. The government, however, is still assessing the risks.

DTI to study partial reopening of restaurants for dine-in
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says they will first check if restaurants can apply health protocols to ensure the safety of diners

Over half of MSMEs stopped operations due to coronavirus lockdown
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says almost 53% or about 525,000 out of the total 998,342 MSMEs in the country bear the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic

DTI sets 30-day grace period for residential, commercial rent
Lessors found guilty of refusing to provide the 30-day grace period face imprisonment of not less than two months or a fine of not less than P10,000, or both

Meat shortage looms in April if checkpoint issues persist
The Philippine Association of Meat Processors says checkpoints should allow vehicles transporting raw materials to pass through

DTI orders groceries to limit number of shoppers
The Department of Trade and Industry says there should only be one person for every square meter of free space in a store to reduce the risk of getting the novel coronavirus

‘How can the couple kiss?’ Gov’t says postpone weddings during virus lockdown
‘What is one month’s postponement for love?’ asks Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles

DTI to informal workers: Sell outside of Metro Manila in the meantime
'I-encourage na lang natin sila na either magregister sila or 'do'n na lang sila sa lugar nanggagaling, 'wag na pumasok sa Metro Manila,' says Trade Secretary Mon Lopez

'Customer not always right': Alcohol hoarders should be sent out of stores, says DTI
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez reminds supermarkets and store owners to strictly implement the limit of 2 bottles of rubbing alcohol per customer
Hoarding, overpricing would lead to criminal charges, warns DTI
Some individuals are buying medical supplies in bulk and selling them online at ridiculously high prices

DTI orders nationwide price freeze amid coronavirus emergency
Retailers are not allowed to raise prices of basic goods for 60 days

Gov't sets price freeze for kerosene, LPG until March 24
The price freeze comes as coronavirus cases rise in the Philippines
Missing deadlines can land you in jail, an ex-DTI director’s case shows
Procrastination in liquidating his cash advances and in filing an appeal seals the fate of a former government official

Lufthansa Technik expansion brings PH closer to becoming regional aerospace hub – DTI
The $40-million expansion project of Lufthansa Technik Philippines in Villamor Air Base is expected to create 300 new jobs

DTI urges South Korean firms to import more Philippine goods
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez hopes more Philippine agricultural products will be exported to South Korea following the buying mission of the Korea Importers Association

PH urges Thailand to comply with customs valuation reforms on cigarette exports
The World Trade Organization rules in favor of the Philippines a third time in its decade-long cigarette export dispute against Thailand

DTI orders businesses to put English, Filipino translations on materials
This order comes after the Department of Trade and Industry inspected a food park in Las Piñas City which allegedly only catered to Chinese nationals

DTI to craft program to boost e-vehicle investments
The Department of Trade and Industry gears up to strengthen the Philippines' e-vehicle industry as it seeks to seal a free trade agreement with South Korea, a manufacturing powerhouse

PH-China sea row not affecting fisheries sector – DTI chief
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also says there's no need to raise the Recto Bank incident during the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok where country leaders are expected to discuss a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea

DTI probes Shopee Philippines over BLACKPINK meet and greet
The result of the probe could come out in a week

DTI expects $5 billion in signed deals from Duterte's Japan trip
The Department of Trade and Industry also says the deals could generate around 80,000 jobs for Filipinos

Huge number of OFWs in Dubai 'big factor' in Duterte’s decision to join Expo 2020 – DTI
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says EXPO 2020 Dubai will be one of the biggest events that the Department of Trade and Industry, together with other agencies that form part of the Philippine Organizing Committee, will participate in

DTI calls for suspension of alleged Chinese-only food park in Las Piñas
The Department of Trade and Industry conducts a surprise inspection of China Food City and finds that the stalls there lack proper permits

Weak demand, U.S.-China trade war hamper Philippines' top export
Exports of electronics and electronic parts decline in March 2019 partly due to poor demand, which is seen to continue for the rest of the year

DTI defends higher SRPs for some goods
The Department of Trade and Industry says it protects consumers and at the same time 'negotiates with manufacturers on the most reasonable price adjustments,' if needed

DTI suggests removing rice SRPs as prices go down
With rice prices as low as P32 per kilo, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says suggested retail prices for the staple are no longer needed. But it is up to the Department of Agriculture to decide.

Faster importation of rice seen under tariffication law
The removal of the National Food Authority from the importation process is expected to cut the time needed to process import permits

DTI, DA to continue collaboration on sugar monitoring
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, however, says the investigation into traders jacking up sugar prices will still depend on the participation of the industry's stakeholders

DTI tightens monitoring of construction materials
The Department of Trade and Industry is expanding the areas covered by its monitoring activities to show it is 'serious' in its campaign against substandard materials

DTI hands off on sugar price, supply issue
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says sugar, a basic commodity, is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture

PH to get $10B in deals, investments from Duterte's China visit – DTI
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says more than 20,000 jobs are expected to be created by deals to be signed on the sidelines of President Rodrigo Duterte's participation at the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing

Philippines, South Korea to pursue free trade agreement
(UPDATED) If the deal pushes through, it would be the Philippines' second economic partnership, after the one with Japan

Philippines eyes better ease of doing business ranking
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says the Philippines is aiming for a ranking higher than 95th, after accomplishing 33 out of 43 planned reforms

Utility firms, Quezon City gov't agree to simplify transactions
The processing of excavation permits is expected to be faster, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between utility firms and the Quezon City government

DTI fully launches online processing for product certifications
The shift to online transactions for processing product certifications can also save businesses around P3,613 per application, says Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

Lopez: Philippines assured of preferential market access to UK post-Brexit
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says the Philippines received the assurance from UK officials in several high-level dialogues over the last two months

DTI seeks to grow halal trade
Aside from catering to some 11 million Muslim Filipinos, local halal businesses should have more exposure to Muslim-majority countries, says the Department of Trade and Industry

New scheme: Cigarette tax stamps traded for sardines, noodles
The Bureau of Internal Revenue discovers a new scheme by illicit tobacco traders: offering sardines or a pack of noodles in exchange for tax stamps

Next in line: Sugar import liberalization
After the government manages to speedily pass the Rice Tariffication law, will the same be said for sugar?

El Niño to have minimal effects on inflation – NEDA
Socioeconomic Planning Assistant Secretary Mercedita Sombilla says planting and harvesting may be delayed, but there would be no major impact on rice production

Philippines secures $1.24 billion in investment pledges from Japan
Japan, being one of the Philippines' strongest trade partners, would help generate 16,000 jobs if these investments push through

DTI seeks Dutch shipbuilding firm investment
While the Damen group has partnerships with local firms, it is currently not a player in the Philippines' shipbuilding industry

DTI, antitrust body to strengthen market competition in new partnership
The long-overdue partnership is expected to produce studies scrutinizing the competitiveness of various industries
PH slips 11 notches in World Bank's ease of doing business ranking
The Philippine government rejects the findings, as Philippine finance and trade officials urge the World Bank to correct the 'inaccurate and understated findings'

Gov't sets suggested retail prices for rice
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol warns that traders who will not follow the SRPs would face jail time and a fine of up to P1 million

Customs alerted on Korean scrap truck smugglers at Davao port
The Department of Trade and Industry and a Davao-based truck dealer say the trucks were smuggled from Korea without the proper registration

Nearly 80,000 jobs available in Labor Day fairs – DOLE
(UPDATED) More than 800 employers will participate in job fairs to be held across the Philippines on May 1

DTI's Lopez, Hyundai face plunder, estafa complaint
(UPDATED) The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption accuses Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez of favoring Hyundai, which the group claims should not have been given P1.1 billion in tax exemptions
