Philippines Pushes Open Trade and Investment, Safe Passage, and Inclusive and Sustainable Growth at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting

DFA Assistant Secretary and APEC Philippines National Secretariat Director General Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo delivering interventions during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting. (APEC Philippines National Secretariat photo)

BANGKOK 26 May 2022 – The Philippines joined other economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in calling for measures fast-tracking post-pandemic regional economic recovery and overcoming disruptive geopolitical-economic challenges at the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting, Second Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), and APEC Related Meetings from 09 to 22 May 2022 at the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre and Shangri-La Bangkok.

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo underscored the role of an open, fair, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in the context of COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The Philippines supports strengthening regional economic integration, including through the eventual realization of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), in which ongoing discussions must tackle both traditional and next-generation trade and investment issues.

Meanwhile, DFA Assistant Secretary and APEC Philippines Secretary General Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo presented the Philippines’ upcoming APEC projects in ensuring inclusive travel in the new normal, as well as studies and policy dialogues on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the maritime sector and crews, which are areas of priority of the Philippines in APEC. Both projects are in furtherance of one of APEC Host Thailand’s key priorities this year - to reconnect the region through safe and seamless cross-border travel. The Philippines also reiterated its support for the proposed Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model towards the fulfillment of the region’s climate, clean energy, and sustainable development goals.

APEC’s theme for this year, under Thailand’s hosting, is Open to all Opportunities, Connect in all Dimensions, Balance in all Aspects. END

Philippine Ambassador to Thailand Millicent Cruz-Paredes (5^th from left), DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo (4^th from right), PECC Secretary-General Eduardo Pedrosa (2^nd from right), DFA Assistant Secretary Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo (rightmost), and the rest of the Philippine delegation at the gala dinner hosted by Thailand during the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting (left). DFA Assistant Secretary Eric Gerardo E. Tamayo (2^nd from left), PECC Secretary-General Eduardo Pedrosa (3^rd from left), and officers and staff of the APEC Philippines National Secretariat after the APEC MRT Meeting (right). (APEC Philippines National Secretariat photo)

For more information, visit https://www.apec2022.go.th/.