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MANILA -- The Philippines will be pushing for three key agenda for inclusive globalization during the 11th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference from December 11 to 13 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez cited the country’s priorities in the WTO meeting which include eliminating trade-distorting domestic support and export subsidies, special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for agriculture, and a Ministerial decision on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) work program considering development levels of countries.

Lopez said in order to have a global fair trade, tradedistorting domestic support by developed and developing countries retaining domestic support entitlements as well as the elimination of all forms of export subsidies must be substantially reduced, if not, eliminated.

As the country’s chief negotiator in the WTO, Lopez will bat for inclusive global trade that will encourage participation of MSMEs in the global value chain.

“The Philippines places great importance on the role of MSMEs in promoting inclusive growth. However, we believe that even among MSMEs, competition needs to be fair among them -- as what may be medium-sized enterprises in a developed country, may already be a large company in a developed country,” he added.