Opportunity costs without Jpepa huge, warns think tank

STATE-RUN Philippine Institute of Development Studies said the country stands to benefit from a free-trade agreement with Japan despite a controversial clause that would allow the shipment of hazardous products. In a statement, the think tank鈥檚 fellows said 鈥渁 bilateral agreement with Japan at this time is a very strategic move, in light of the growing trend toward regionalism, particularly the regional integration of East Asia, along with increasing globalization and technological progress.鈥�