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Philippines to discuss agri-fishery policies in WTO conference

Business | Trade & Industry

Philippines to discuss agri-fishery policies in WTO conference

By Khriscielle Yalao

The Philippine delegation, led by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Alfredo E. Pascual, will join other members of the international community in discussing relevant policies in the agri-fisheries and other economic sectors during the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) this week.

According to the DTI, the delegation will be tackling agriculture reforms in WTO's mechanisms to resolve "public stockholding for food security purposes, and an effective special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for developing countries."

It will also discuss fisheries subsidies negotiations where the country aims to "establish a balanced approach on the disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing including an effective and appropriate special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed Members."

Talks on electronic commerce, investment facilitation for development, trade and environment, integration of micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Global Value Chain are also expected to make headway.

To prepare, the DTI convened briefing sessions throughout February, involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) such as SENTRO, Federation of Free Farmers, Federation of Free Workers, Nestle Philippines, and Agap Partylist.

The MC13, the highest decision-making body of the WTO, will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Feb. 26 to 29.

With Pascual are officials from the House of Representatives and Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), and Philippine Mission to the WTO in Geneva.

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