DTI, BITR Set WTO’s National Advocacy, Forum in Cebu City

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR) are inviting partners from the government sector, business sector/industry associations, and academe to a forum in connection with the World Trade Organization (WTO) National Advocacy and Consultation Program.

The forum is on November 17, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hotel Elizabeth, said DTI Cebu Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon.

According to Arbon, the program is a transparency exercise of the BITR on the WTO which complements trade policy and negotiations.

This also aims to provide opportunity to review Philippine views in the Doha Round negotiations as well as new issues affecting international trade and global economy, which the WTO has been given the strong pressure to address.

The topics to be discussed includes among others, the Multilateral Trading System from the International Trade Organization (ITO) to the WTO-Doha Development Agenda, and some specific issues such as agriculture, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), services, intellectual property rights and corresponding rules.

The results of the Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Conferences and the current state of play in Geneva will also be part of the discussion.

The forum is for free, however, seats are limited thus interested participants are requested to make reservation through email at dticebu.idipd@gmail.com or contact Airene C. Edaño at telephone numbers (032) 253-2631 / 255-7082 local 109. (rmn/jsme/PIA7-Cebu with DTI report)