Economy

Representatives of members of Trans-Pacific Partnership after the signing agreement ceremony in Santiago, Chile, on Mar. 8, 2018.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top right, delivers a virtual speech to the ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26.
International relations

Malaysia's Anwar says 'real progress' made in ASEAN-India trade deal review

With Modi attending summit virtually, experts see year-end deadline as likely to be missed

27 October 2025
Two women walk past a damaged house after a strong earthquake in Davao City in the southern Philippines on Oct. 10. 
Natural disasters

Philippines and Indonesia issue tsunami warnings after 7.4 magnitude quake

Pacific warning center says parts of Indonesia, Palau could see waves up to 1 meter

10 October 2025
According to a poll in the Philippines, 10 out of 16 economists expected the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to pause rate cuts. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Markets

Philippines lowers rates for 4th time in row in bid to spur on economy

Quarter-point cut to 4.75% comes after September typhoons, systemic corruption cloud growth

9 October 2025
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3 October 2025
Patients wait outside a hospital in Bogo City after a strong earthquake struck the central Philippines on Oct. 1.
Natural disasters

Philippines quake death toll rises to 69, official says

6.9-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Cebu late Tuesday night

1 October 2025
Containers at a Thai port. According to the latest Asian Development Bank report, Thailand will only see 2% economic growth in 2026.
Economy

Trade uncertainties to crimp growth across developing Asia, says ADB

Region bearing the brunt of U.S. 'reciprocal' tariffs, according to six-monthly outlook

30 September 2025
The five Liberal Democratic Party leadership candidates pose at a media event in Tokyo on Sept. 24. (Photo by Shintaro Ino) 
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential election, ADB outlook, BOJ economic survey

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

28 September 2025
A SM Group shopping mall in Davao, Philippines: The company will spend $2.6 billion between 2026 and 2030 to build new malls in the Philippines and revamp existing ones. (Photo by Yuki Fujita)
Retail

Philippines' SM Group to open mall in China's Xiamen in October

Retail giant eyes expansion in the country, more investment at home

15 September 2025
In a market once dominated by integrated resorts and on-site casinos, the digital-first approach of companies like DigiPlus is proving a force to be reckoned with. (Nikkei montage photo by Ramon Royandoyan) 
Trading Asia

Rise of online gambling reshapes Philippine stock market, but risks emerge

Regulatory concerns bring volatility to internet casino operator DigiPlus

1 September 2025
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Eli Remolona signaled earlier in August that a rate cut was "quite likely." (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Markets

Philippines extends aggressive easing cycle to boost economy

Rate cut flagged by governor comes amid slowing inflation and trade headwinds

28 August 2025
Bananas imported from Vietnam are replacing those from the Philippines on some shelves in Japan. (Photo by Mao Kato)
Food & Beverage

Vietnam takes bite out of Philippine bananas' market share in Japan

Vietnamese fruit has edge in freshness and pricing, wholesalers say

9 August 2025
Voters cast their ballots at a Manila polling station in the Philippines' midterm elections on May 12. The campaign was a significant contributor to the country achieving GDP growth of 5.5%. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
Economy

Philippine midterms, trade front-loading help 2nd-quarter GDP expand 5.5%

Analysts expect global headwinds to weigh on output in second half of year

7 August 2025
Ronnel Gardon tends rice supplies at a shop in Manila. The government says its decision to ban imports of the staple for 60 days is to strike a balance between the needs of farmers and consumers.
Agriculture

Philippines suspends rice imports for 60 days to protect farmers

Analysts disagree over impact decision will have on global prices

6 August 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on July 22. 
Trump tariffs

Philippine goods face 19% tariff, US exports to be levy-free: Trump

Marcos Jr says automobiles a key sector of interest for US president

23 July 2025
A port in Bangkok. The Asian Development Bank has lowered its growth forecast for Thailand to 1.8% from the previous 2.8% due to higher U.S. trade tariffs.
Economy

ADB cuts growth forecast for Malaysia, India, South Korea on tariffs

Lender's flagship report keeps China's projection unchanged at 4.7% for 2025

23 July 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump issued his latest round of tariff letters on July 9, targeting the Philippines and Brunei, among others.
Trump tariffs

Philippines to face 20% US tariff, Trump says in letter to Marcos

Manila joins list of Southeast Asian trading partners hit with higher 'reciprocal' duties

10 July 2025
People walk past a market beside the railways in Paranaque City, Metro Manila.
Economy

Philippines downgrades 2025 GDP growth target to 5.5-6.5%

Government cites global uncertainties over trade war and Middle Eastern situation

26 June 2025
The Philippine peso, which in April was stronger than it had been since August 2023, has allowed Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to further ease its monetary policy.
Markets

Philippine central bank cuts rates to boost economic growth

Second easing this year comes amid slowest inflation in over 5 years

19 June 2025
Filipino students and nuns take part in the One Billion Rising global campaign to end violence against women and advance gender equality, at St. Scholastica's College in Manila on Feb.. The Philippines has one of East Asia's highest gender equality levels, according to the World Economic Forum.
Gender

Philippines, Singapore gender equality high in Asia, but region lags Europe: WEF

Report shows global gap expected to take 123 years to close

12 June 2025
Container ships at Jakarta International Container Terminal. Southeast Asian countries are offering to buy more U.S. products in tariff negotiations with Washington. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Trump tariffs

ASEAN countries struggle to resolve Trump's 'divide and conquer' tariffs

Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia on U.S. priority talks list but no firm deals yet

28 May 2025
Cristina Roque spoke to Nikkei Asia on May 20 in Tokyo in her role as the Philippines' trade and industry secretary: "Digitalization is very important for the Philippines," she says. (Photo by Kotaro Igarashi)
Telecommunication

Philippines and Google in talks about data center, minister says

Improving internet connectivity seen as priority for Southeast Asian nation

23 May 2025
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Podcast: News Roundup

Philippine elections, India-Pakistan conflict and more

Tune in to Nikkei Asia's podcast, bringing the region's key news to global listeners

16 May 2025
Despite economic concerns, analysts say the May 12 election for a host of seats, including the whole of the House of Representatives, will play out as a proxy battle for the two leading political dynasties, represented by former president Rodrigo Duterte, left, and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Policy Asia

In Philippines election, personality trumps policy as economic storm brews

Inflation worries swirl, but clan allegiances to prevail in midterm ballot choices

9 May 2025
A vegetable seller at a public market in Manila. The country's GDP growth in the first quarter of the year was bolstered by strong consumer spending. 
Economy

Philippine Q1 GDP misses forecasts as Trump trade war starts to bite

Country braces for 'period of volatility' despite facing relatively low US tariffs

8 May 2025
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, left, and his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh, walk during a welcoming ceremony in Hanoi on April 28.
Trump tariffs

Japanese PM Ishiba champions free trade in Southeast Asia visit

Trip follows Trump tariff shock and Xi's visit to ASEAN countries

28 April 2025
As a net importer from China and net exporter to the U.S., ASEAN finds itself hemmed in by the trade war between the world's two largest economies. (Illustration by Yoshiko Kawano)
ASEAN Money

ASEAN struggles to boost regional trade amid Trump tariff threat

U.S. policy renews urgency to deepen economic ties within Southeast Asian bloc

15 April 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies could slow down the flow of remittances to the Philippines as the levies could damage the world economy, affecting how much overseas Filipino workers earn.  (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Shinya Sawai)
Trading Asia

Trump policies threaten to shake foundation of shock-resistant Philippine peso

Crackdown on immigration set to squeeze country's key economic lifeline -- remittances

14 April 2025
Cargo vessels at Manila's main port. The U.S. now imposes a 17% tariff on imports from the Philippines.
Trump tariffs

Asia's trade focus shifts to China amid Trump tariffs

Philippines eyes new investments while Thailand and others build up rail link

10 April 2025
A container ship passes a car cargo ship at a port terminal off Singapore on Feb. 20. The Asian Development Bank says the trade-oriented city will suffer a particularly hard blow from the U.S. tariffs.
Economy

Trump puts Asia on track for 'significantly lower growth,' ADB says

Preliminary modeling suggests China's expansion rate will drop 0.9 of a point

9 April 2025