Philippines to Push for Trade Reforms at WTO Conference in Abu Dhabi

Manila, Philippines – Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Fred Pascual is set to head the Philippine delegation at the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13), taking place from February 26 to 29 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

According to Philippines News Agency, the delegation will include officials from the House of Representatives and various government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, and the Philippine Mission to the WTO in Geneva.

The focus for the MC13 includes efforts to resolve the current deadlock in the WTO Appellate Body and to establish a functioning dispute resolution mechanism by 2024. The Philippine delegation aims to advocate for reforms that enhance the WTO’s functions, improve notification and transparency mechanisms, and secure meaningful advancements in agriculture negotiations. These efforts are directed towards finding a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes and implementing an effective special safeguard mechanism for developing countries.

Additionally, the Philippines is emphasizing the importance of progressing in the second wave of negotiations on fisheries subsidies. The goal is to achieve a balanced approach to regulations on overcapacity and overfishing, ensuring effective and appropriate special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed members. Other key discussion points include the finalization of agreements on electronic commerce, investment facilitation for development, trade and environment, and the integration of micro, small, and medium enterprises into the global value chain.

In preparation for MC13, the DTI has conducted several briefing sessions, including a joint briefing for Congress on February 8 and a session for non-governmental organizations and civil society groups on February 15. Attendees included representatives from various sectors such as Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, Federation of Free Farmers, Federation of Free Workers, Nestle Philippines, and Agap Party-list.

The Ministerial Conference serves as the WTO’s highest decision-making body, attended by trade ministers and senior officials from the organization’s 164 member countries. The last Ministerial Conference (MC12) took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 12 to 17, 2022.