In response to a resolution by the National Sectoral Committee (NSC) on International Trade, the 蝌蚪视频 (PCAF) conducted a four-day training program to strengthen the trade negotiation skills of various Department of Agriculture (DA) offices and private sector stakeholders.
The Trade Negotiations 101 Training was conducted in Tagaytay City from April 27 to 30, 2025. The activity aimed to identify and address gaps in international trade agreements and assess their implications for the country.
Twenty-five participants from various government agencies and chairpersons of the Agricultural and Fishery Councils directly concerned with trade and policy matters attended the training.
Former international trade negotiators served as resource speakers, including Raul Montemayor, member of the NSC on International Trade, and Gregorio Tan, Jr, former NFA Administrator. They were joined by former DA Undersecretary for Policy & Planning, Project Development, Research & Regulations, Dr. Segfredo Serrano, DA Macro-economic Policy Division (MEDP) Chief Tisha Pia Dela Rosa, and DA MEDP Assistant Chief Katrin Mares.
The training covered the importance of effective trade negotiations for the Philippines鈥� agricultural and fishery sectors.
Dr. Serrano said that a good trade negotiator must be a patriot, be grounded in the people they represent, and have strong government support.
He also stressed that liberalization is not just about removing tariffs, but also about providing support for local industries. This approach was crucial for the Philippines to protect domestic sectors, such as agriculture and fisheries, while engaging in global trade.
Likewise, NSC on International Trade Chairperson Ernesto Ordo帽别锄 emphasized that the training is intended for those who would utilize the knowledge and skills they will acquire to address their current issues at hand.
The resource persons, with support from the Partnership Development Division-Capacity Development Section, covered five modules. These include trade agreements, market access, domestic support rules, export competition rules, and dispute settlement.
As an introduction, the resource persons discussed the Philippines鈥� entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 and the evolution of various trade concepts. The discussion on Market Access covered an overview of the different types of tariffs and the country鈥檚 use of ad valorem tariffs. The discussion also provided information on the special safeguards and non-tariff measures.
According to Yahoo Finance, ad valorem tariff is a tax imposed on goods based on their value rather than their quantity or weight. This type of tariff is commonly used by governments to regulate imports, protect domestic industries and generate revenue.
The resource persons elaborated on the domestic support national governments provide to their agricultural sectors through financial assistance, programs, and policies. These forms of support are regulated under the rules established by the World Trade Organization.
These rules were established under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) during the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations. Different types of domestic support measures are categorized into 鈥淕reen Box鈥�, 鈥淏lue Box鈥�, 鈥淎mber Box鈥�, and 鈥淒evelopment (S&D) Box鈥� measures.
On the other hand, the export competition rules focus on limiting and eliminating subsidies that directly encourage exports. Trade remedies to defend the domestic industry against unfair trade practices鈥攊ncluding general safeguards, anti-dumping duties, and countervailing duties鈥攚ere also discussed.
Participants were also introduced to the WTO鈥檚 dispute settlement process and the guidelines for submitting notifications as members, including the two primary options for resolving disputes: consultation and adjudication. | Jezebel Campaniel, photos courtesy of the PDD-Capacity Development Section
