The Carlos P. Romulo School of Diplomacy (CPRSD) conducted a four-day course on the World Trading System and the World Trade Organization (WTO) last 26 August to 29 August. The course was held as an e-class attended in real time by selected personnel from the embassies in Tokyo, Phnom Penh, Islamabad and Seoul and the consulates in Osaka and Macau. A total of 26 participants graduated from the program which was conceptualized to promote an understanding of Philippine participation in Global Trade and the WTO among officers and senior staff officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Experts in the field served as resource persons for the course. Mr. Leodegario Alabarca, Jr. of the WTO Desk of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) discussed the historical underpinnings of global trade and the subsequent formation of the WTO while Dr. Thomas G. Aquino, former DTI Senior Undersecretary, shared his expertise on the principles underlying the organization and the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

For the participants’ case analyses, Atty. Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga of the Office of Legal Affairs and a representative from the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Katrin R. Mares, tackled the issues surrounding the Philippines’ cases with the WTO. The course was concluded with an informative lecture on the Competition Policy by Assistant Secretary Geronimo L. Sy from the Department of Justice.

Atty. Gonzaga addresses a question from a participant from the PCG in Osaka.

Course participants interact with online participants through videoconferencing.

Dr. Aquino talks about the JPEPA for the benefit of DFA personnel.