With the shift to clean energy gaining traction, green metals are getting the spotlight. These green metals, including copper, lithium, tin, and zinc, are gaining more attention, and rightfully so.

Green metals have a long-term tailwind forecast, critical in producing clean energy, like batteries and solar panels.

"In addition, these green metals can be used for downstream industries such as E.V. battery manufacturing, wiring harness production, hyper-scale data centers, and renewable energy projects," Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual told US businessmen.

During his conference call with US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo before the ministerial meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity held last week, Pascual also pitched investments that would increase the country's participation in value chains of high-value critical products.

He also acknowledged the efforts of the US, thru Secretary Raimondo, to facilitate recent US Trade and Development Agency grants, which he noted can be replicated and expanded through the IPEF.

It can be recalled that during the visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the country last August, he announced a grant for a feasibility study on the Philippines' first offshore wind farm and cited this as indicative of US' vision for the IPEF.

Apart from this, another grant that will soon be announced involves processing nickel ore through a partnership with an American company that owns patents in the manufacture of batteries.

The US firm supplies US military and critical industries, including hyper-scale data centers, renewable energy projects, and long-haul trucking companies.

Upskilling support

Meanwhile, Secretary Pascual welcomed Raimondo's IPEF upskilling initiative in which 14 of the largest US digital companies, such as Apple, American Towers and Amazon, will provide digital skills training to seven million women and girls in less-developed IPEF parties, including the Philippines.

The Philippines also expressed interest in mechanisms that lessen information asymmetries by promoting commercially oriented knowledge-sharing platforms to develop MSME-inclined ecosystems using the carbon credit market and green financing instruments. The country likewise supports "green lanes" and other investment facilitation vehicles for existing and future grants dedicated to establishing cross-border private joint venture partnerships in the region.