Marcos: PH committed to regulating dual-use tech trade

President Marcos has stressed the Philippines' commitment to regulating the trade of dual-use technology to ensure that these tools meant for progress would not become weapons of mass destruction.

Marcos said this as he graced the inaugural Philippine Strategic Trade Management (STM) Summit 2024 in Taguig City on Monday morning, Sept. 9.

In his speech, the President said the summit was an important event amid emerging civilian and military technologies that pose challenges in trade management in an already complex world.

"The rapid pace of advancement demands us to be more agile, more responsible, and it requires us to address the speed and dual-use nature of these new technologies," he said.

"This summit is not merely about managing trade, it is also about mitigating risks, promoting stability and confidence in our regulatory regimes, and ensuring that the tools of our progress do not become weapons of our destruction," he added.

According to Marcos, strategic trade management was more than just a bureaucratic exercise, it was about upholding the rule of law, protecting the people, and contributing to peace and security.

"As a crucial tool in our endeavor to uphold global peace and security, STM allows us to regulate dual-use goods and technologies to prevent their misuse while encouraging lawful trade that benefits us all," he said.

"Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, our regulation strategy should be dynamic, adaptable, [and] forward-thinking. We must also work together to create a system that is not only robust but versatile, equitable, and resilient," he added.

By leveraging their collective strengths, President Marcos said different countries can advance regional initiatives that ensure supply chain security, counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and insurgency, and create an environment where trade can thrive.

"This will be key to harnessing our collective economic prowess and sustaining our region as an epicenter of growth in this century," he said.

"One country cannot do this alone. each of us, no matter the race, color, or belief, has a clear stake in building a more secure and prosperous world," he added.

Philippines' efforts

For its part, President Marcos said the Philippines is on the right track in strategic trade management. However, he admitted that there was more left to be done.

According to the Chief Executive, the country has already launched a strategic investment plan focused on developing key industries, empowering it to "position ourselves better in the global market."

The government has also developed policies that require individuals and entities engaging in activities covered by the Strategic Trade Management Act to register and receive authorization to deliver their services.

"We have also implemented programs to educate not only the border control and import-export offices in fulfilling their responsibilities but also stakeholders to properly comply with our rules and regulations," Marcos said.

"We are conducting post-authorization audits, compliance checks, and compliance consultations through monitoring and inspection activities," he added.

The President said the Philippines will continue to upgrade industry standards, modernize regulations, and further establish linkages to various trade and investment frameworks to realize a more competitive region.

The STM Summit convenes senior-level government officials from different strategic trade agencies across the globe to discuss the latest STM-related trends, issues, and challenges. It covers all aspects of counter-proliferation and serves as a platform for exchanging perspectives and best practices on promoting informed compliance and enforcing STM laws.

Nations participating in the event include Member States from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Union (EU), as well as representatives from the United Nations (UN) and other countries from Africa and the Pacific Islands.