DTI urged to lead RP panel in talks with Asean, WTO

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should be the lead agency and oversee all the negotiations entered into by the Philippine government with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organizations (WTO) in order to unify the negotiating process.

During a five-day trade policy course organized by business think tank — Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade (U-ACT) and the International Trade Centre (ITC)-Geneva in partnership with the British Embassy and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), businessmen said that there is a need to unify and institutionalize the country’s negotiating structure if only for the Philippine industries to move forward and become more competitive in the global trading market.

Participants of the Institutionalization of Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Professional Learning and Universal Skills for Trade Policy and Negotiations (I-MUST PLUS) composed of business managers, chief executive officers, chamber leaders, industry associations heads, trade advocates and specialists, and academe support the proposal to create an executive order (EO) designating DTI as the lead agency to negotiate.

Special Envoy for Trade Negotiations and U-ACT CEO Donald Dee said that creating another layer for the bureaucracy may only create confusion and divisiveness among agencies handling the negotiations.