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The Philippines reiterated its commitment to a rules-based global trading system, a stronger services agenda, and inclusive innovation
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The Philippines said an ‘open, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable multilateral trading system’ is essential for building business confidence
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry led the Philippine delegation
The Philippines reiterated its commitment to a rules-based global trading system under the World Trade Organization, a stronger services agenda, and inclusive innovation, a statement from the Department of Trade’s Bureau of International Trade Relations said.
The country made its stand clear during the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), held on August 14-15, 2025 in Incheon, South Korea.
At the meeting, the Philippines said an “open, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable multilateral trading system” is essential for building business confidence, facilitating investments, and supporting global supply chains.
The Department of Trade’s Bureau of International Trade Relations Director Marie Sherylyn Aquia urged economies to push for the immediate entry into force of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and to advance dispute settlement reform.
“We must strengthen open and fair trade while leveraging innovation for an inclusive, sustainable Asia-Pacific,” she said, adding that “APEC’s work today must translate into tangible benefits for all sectors, particularly MSMEs.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry led the Philippine delegation, the latter represented by Aquia as the Philippines’ alternate lead for the Committee on Trade and Investment.
Senior officials tackled such issues as strengthening trade and investment resilience, harnessing transformative technologies like artificial intelligence to address economic challenges like demographic shifts, and preparations for the 2025 APEC Summit.
APEC has made progress in implementing the 2016-2025 APEC Services Competitiveness Roadmap and the Philippines emphasized the need for a successor roadmap that is “modern, responsive, and adaptable.”
The Senior Officials Meeting 3 forms part of APEC’s year-long work program and is a key preparatory meeting for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated in late October this year in Gyeongju, South Korea, where leaders will set the region’s strategic direction and present deliverables adopt reflecting APEC’s shared priorities.
