Philippines eyes Pax Silica framework deal with US within this year

July 7, 2026 - 2:54 PM
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This file photo shows Jacob Helberg, United States Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs. (U.S. State Department)

 The Philippines hopes to sign a Pax Silica framework deal with the United States within this year, Finance Secretary Frederick Go said on Tuesday.

  • The Philippines in April became the 13th country to join Pax Silica, the U.S.-led initiative to secure AI and semiconductor supply chains. It has been negotiating a framework for a 4,000-acre industrial hub north of Manila.

READ: Philippines, US to build industrial hub for supply-chain security | US, Philippines to reach deal on economic security zone ‘sooner rather than later’, US official says

  • U.S. officials and more than a dozen company representatives, including Foxconn’s chairman, visited New Clark City in May to assess the proposed hub site.
  • Go identified Foxconn 2317.TW as the planned tech hub’s anchor, with electronics component manufacturing as the priority investment.
  • The U.S. State Department currently lists 23 signatories to the Pax Silica declaration, from Australia, India, Japan and South Korea to the European Union, Britain, Argentina, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

—Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Editing by John Mair, Martin Petty