Press Release
September 18, 2009

ROXAS PUSHES SINGLE GOV'T OFFICE FOR INT'L TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today proposed the creation of a Philippine Trade Representative Office (PTRO) to handle and coordinate government's international trade policy formulation and negotiations.

Roxas, Chairman of the Senate Trade and Commerce Committee, sponsored Senate Bill No. 3417, or the proposed Accountability in International Trade Negotiations Law of the Philippines, and stressed the need for a more comprehensive international trade policy through a central government agency to handle international trade and investment negotiations

"Kailangan natin ng isang matibay na ahensiya na tatayong tagapagtanggol ng interes ng bansa natin sa pandaigdigang kalakalan (Our interest as a people is at stake here. We need a strong vanguard in international trade)," he said.

"Accelerated trade and economic cooperation as between sovereign nations is seen as a compelling solution to combat the global economic crisis. But simple good sense and accountability dictate that we as a country cannot and should not negotiate in the same way as in the past," he stressed.

Under Committee Report No. 566, Roxas proposed the creation of the Philippine Trade Representative Office (PTRO) within the Office of the President, which will be headed by a Philippine Trade Representative with three deputies, all of whom to be appointed by the president for a fixed term of six years.

Among others, the PTRO will formulate government's trade position based on a national development agenda; represent the government in all international trade negotiations; monitor the implementation of trade agreements, and assert and protect the rights and interest of the Philippines under all international trade agreements.

The agency will have the power to issue compulsory processes, such as subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum. It will also be mandated to collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders in formulating one comprehensive and unified trade policy and negotiations stance.

"We should have a single agency that is responsible and accountable for our country's trade policy. Right now, what we have is a 'spaghetti bowl' of different agencies with different specific to their sectors," the Visayan senator said.

Through a Multi-Sectoral Advisory Committee, the PTRO have a formal consultation and information feedback process with the private sector and non-government organizations on trade and investment policy to balance the interests of stakeholders.

"Dapat mapakinggan ang boses ng lahat, lalo na ng ordinaryong magsasaka, manggagawa at iba pang sektor. Hindi puwedeng sumabak tayo sa negosasyon nang walang konsultasyon (The voice of all sectors�particularly the marginalized�should be taken into consideration before we negotiate trade agreements)," he stressed.

A Trade Research Division will be created within the PTRO to provide trade negotiators with the needed information to competitively negotiate trade agreements.

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