The government will soon require cigarette manufacturers planning to set up shop in the country’s special economic zones (SEZs) to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before they can be allowed to operate, in line with the Duterte administration’s sustained drive against tax evasion and the illicit tobacco trade. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the alleged illicit activities in SEZs of certain locators registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Au

A 2020 update of the ICC BASCAP report assessing the environment and highlighting trends in counterfeiting and other forms of illicit trade facilitated within free trade zones. What’s at risk? Free Trade Zones (FTZs) provide significant opportunities for legitimate business and play a critical role in global trade as well as economic growth for the host nation. However, our updated research has continued to confirm that insufficient oversight remains a major enabler of illic