U.S., Japan lead economic partner preferences

The United States and Japan remain Filipinos’ top choices for the country’s most important economic partners, while Taiwan is gaining ground, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

The survey, conducted from 17 to 23 September among 2,400 respondents, found that 73 percent selected the United States and 62 percent chose Japan among their three preferred economic partners.

Canada ranked third with 35 percent, followed by Australia at 30 percent and South Korea at 21 percent.

Japan posted the largest increase among the top five, gaining 10 percentage points from July, while the United States rose 2 points. Canada gained 7 points, while Australia declined 5 points.

Taiwan’s preference rating increased 3 percentage points to 11 percent, reflecting growing interest in its role in semiconductor manufacturing and technology supply chains.

China, meanwhile, slipped 3 percentage points to 14 percent.

Stratbase Group president Victor Andres Manhit said the findings reflected public confidence in countries capable of strengthening Philippine investments, infrastructure and technological competitiveness.

“Filipinos increasingly recognize that our economic security is closely tied to the partnerships we build with trusted countries. The growing preference for the United States and Japan reflects confidence in partners that can help the Philippines expand investments, strengthen critical infrastructure and secure our place in emerging technology supply chains,” Manhit said.

The survey comes as the Marcos administration advances the Luzon Economic Corridor, a trilateral initiative with Washington and Tokyo aimed at attracting investments in transportation, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing and digital connectivity.

Manhit attributed China’s declining preference rating partly to continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea.