The Philippines is aiming to sign a framework agreement with the United States under the Pax Silica initiative before the end of 2026, Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said Tuesday, as negotiations continue over a proposed artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing hub in New Clark City, Tarlac.
“From what I understand, this is a priority. So, I hope we can get something signed within the year,” Go said at a press briefing.
The Philippines joined Pax Silica in April 2026 as its 13th signatory. The initiative, led by the United States, is designed to secure supply chains for artificial intelligence and semiconductor production among allied economies. The U.S. State Department now lists 23 signatories to the coalition, including Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
At the center of the agreement is a proposed 1,618-hectare industrial hub within New Clark City, part of the broader Luzon Economic Corridor, a trilateral connectivity initiative among the Philippines, the United States and Japan. The corridor has since drawn support from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Go said eight countries have signed on to support the corridor, including Canada, which has pledged a $2-million grant for the initiative.
U.S. officials and more than a dozen company representatives, including Foxconn’s chairman, visited New Clark City in May to evaluate the proposed site. Go identified Foxconn as the anchor investor for the planned hub, with electronics component manufacturing named as the priority investment area.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority, which oversees the New Clark City site, said in late April that it expects to break ground on the first phase of development within two years.
The Luzon Economic Corridor forms part of a wider push to position the Philippines within global electronics and semiconductor supply chains, an industry that already accounts for more than half of the country’s total merchandise exports. Framework details, including specific investment commitments, have yet to be finalized.
