Philippines Elected in United Nations Body on International Trade Law
The Philippines wins a seat as member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, with its term beginning on 7 July 2025. Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, joins Philippine delegates to UNCITRAL meetings. (New York PM photo)
NEW YORK – The Philippines has been elected as member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) during elections held on 20 November 2024. The Philippines’ six-year term will commence on 7 July 2025, along with thirty other elected members of UNCITRAL.
The election underscores the Philippine’s dedication to contributing to the progressive development of international trade law and fostering inclusion and collaboration among Member States, while articulating the distinct views of developing countries.
“Our election to the UNCITRAL manifests our commitment to the rules-based international economic order,” stated Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York.
The UNCITRAL is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. Its mandate is to remove legal obstacles to international trade by progressively modernizing and harmonizing trade law. It prepares legal texts in a number of key areas such as international commercial dispute settlement, electronic commerce, insolvency, international payments, sale of goods, transport law, procurement and infrastructure development.
As an observer in the current term, including in the 57th UNCITRAL Annual Session held in New York from 24 June to 12 July 2024, the Philippines demonstrates its commitment to advancing the mandate of UNCITRAL through its active engagement in the session meetings. Ambassador Lagdameo, headed the Philippine delegation to the Annual Session. Relevant Philippine agencies participated, with representatives from the Office of the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, and the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of International Economic Relations delivering statements and interventions.
Under the leadership of Ambassador Lagdameo, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York participates in UNCITRAL work during working group sessions held at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Philippines has also actively participated in UNCITRAL sessions in Vienna, supporting efforts to streamline the text draft omnibus resolution on UNCITRAL at the General Assembly through the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna, under the leadership of Ambassador Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas.
As an elected member of UNCITRAL, the Philippines will contribute to the work of the UNCITRAL, particularly in advancing the interests of developing countries. Among others, the Philippines supports the establishment of the Advisory Centre on international investment dispute resolution which aims to enhance the capacity of States and regional economic integration organizations in handling international investment disputes with a particular focus on least developed and developing countries. The Philippines is committed to be a part of the State-led intergovernmental process towards its operationalization.
Joining the Philippines as elected members from the Asia-Pacific region are China, Japan, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam.
The UNCITRAL also provides technical assistance to law reform activities, including assisting Member States to review and assess their law reform needs and to draft the legislation required to implement UNCITRAL texts. The UNCITRAL Secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria, and maintains a website at uncitral.un.org. END
Third Secretary and Election Officer Louie Merced form the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN casts the PH vote at the UNCITRAL elections on 20 November 2024 at the General Assembly. (New York PM photo)
For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.