DTI ready to enforce intl treaty vs illicit arms trade

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is ready to enforce an international pact called the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that seeks to prevent illicit conventional arms trade after a recent Senate concurrence.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a statement described the ratification of the ATT as a “watershed moment” in the country’s fight against the illegal trade of weapons.

“The Philippines has once again demonstrated its commitment to effectively regulate the transfer of conventional weapons, ammunitions and/or munitions and their parts and components thereby enhancing the country’s international credibility in the cross-border trade of such items,” Lopez said in the statement he issued over the weekend.

The Trade Secretary also noted that the Philippines also became the first member-state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to ratify the multilateral treaty. The Philippines signed the pact a year before it came into force in 2014.

“By setting an example, we hope to inspire our Asean neighbors to ratify and implement the ATT and to collaborate in preventing and eradicating the illicit trade in conventional arms, their diversion to the illicit market, or for unauthorized end use and end users, including the commission of terrorist acts,” Lopez said.

The trade official added that the country’s Strategic Trade Management Act (STMA) and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) have outlined the provisions necessary to carry out the treaty.

For example, the STMA’S Annex 1 covers the conventional weapons covered by the treaty’s scope, such as ammunitions/munitions, as well as parts and components, as defined in Article 4 of the ATT.

“Additionally, acts defined as transfers in the ATT are already included in the scope of Stma-covered acts,” Lopez said. “Further, the STMA and its IRRS already take into account all relevant factors in assessing the export and import of items as provided in the ATT.”

The chief of the trade and industry department (DTI) said that the ATT ratification “assures exporters worldwide that the Philippines maintains national controls in accordance with international standards.”

For its part, DTI’S Strategic Trade Management Office has committed to work with relevant government agencies and industry stakeholders in the issuance of related guidelines.

The “2021/2022 Peddling Peril Index,” or PPI, report showed the Philippines jumped to the 49th rank from 86 after scoring 482 points. This made the country the most improved nation in the implementation of strategic trade control.

The PPI report rates 200 countries based on their strategic trade control adoption and implementation.

The DTI defined strategic goods as “items with civilian and military applications,” noting that many of them “can be used as materials or parts of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).”

Among the five super criteria under the PPI, the Philippines saw the biggest improvement in ability to prevent proliferation financing. Score for this pillar rose to 113 from 29.

For adequacy of enforcement, score increased to 282 from 109. Ability to monitor and detect strategic trade was better at 129 points from 102 points previously.

However, the country saw a slight drop in international commitment to 58 points and legislation to 174 points.