Manila, Oct. 29 -- Malacanang said Wednesday the Philippines was not left out of the United States' latest zero percent tariff concessions for select Southeast Asian countries, saying the government opted out to protect key domestic sectors from being fully opened to foreign competition.

Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, in a statement released by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, said the Marcos administration chose to prioritize food security and local producers over rapid market liberalization.

"We are trying to protect several industries in the Philippines, such as rice, corn, sugar, and poultry," Go said in a statement shared by Castro.

She clarified that only two ASEAN countrie...