Establishing a Philippine Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO)

January 19, 2004

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 271

ESTABLISHING A PHILIPPINE PERMANENT MISSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)

WHEREAS, a coherent and effective trade policy is a key enabler and promoter of national development, and should aim to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth and higher living standards for Filipinos in accordance with the national interest and efforts towards the building of a strong Republic; SIaHTD

WHEREAS, international trade law issues are increasingly more complex, technical, and far-reaching in impact as a result of the worldwide trend towards globalization and economic integration, making current negotiations before the World Trade Organization, among others, of greater significance and importance to the nation's economic development;

WHEREAS, the Government recognizes the importance of continuing multilateral and other trade negotiations being conducted under the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), established pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreement signed on 15 April 1994, as well as discussions in other trade policy organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD);

WHEREAS, the Government recognizes the need to provide for enhanced technical assistance and support for government negotiators and agencies involved in reviewing matters of trade policy, market access and development, and desires to increase its capability to act in a timely and coordinated basis on said matters;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law and the Constitution, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Establishment of the Permanent Philippine Mission to WTO. — There is hereby established and created a Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the World Trade Organization, located in Geneva.

SECTION 2. Scope of Powers and Functions. — The Mission henceforth shall be considered a distinct diplomatic mission and post of the Republic of the Philippines responsible for leading trade negotiations, handling trade disputes and representing the Republic of the Philippines before the World Trade Organization, and in addition coordinating closely with the existing Philippine Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva insofar as trade policy discussions before the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and any other organization so designated by the President or the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. CDTAbench

SECTION 3. Staffing. — The Mission is to be staffed as a conventional diplomatic mission and post of the Republic of the Philippines, and headed by a Permanent Representative, who shall have the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Chief of Mission I and supported by the appropriate and necessary administrative and technical staff.

SECTION 4. Technical Assistance and Support. — The Mission shall also receive instructions, technical assistance and support, from the Department of Foreign Affairs — Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (OUIER) and the Office of United Nations & International Organizations (UNIO), the Department of Trade and Industry — International Trade Group, specifically the Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR) and the personnel of the Foreign Trade Service Corps in Geneva, Switzerland, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) — Trade, Industry and Utilities Staff (TIUS) involved with the Committee on Tariffs and Related Matters (CTRM), the Department of Agriculture insofar as agricultural policy is concerned, as well as any branch, department, bureau, office, agency and instrumentality of the government including government-owned and controlled corporations, as designated by the President.

SECTION 5. Private Sector Assistance and Support. — The Mission shall also be able to rely and receive, to the extent permitted by law and regulations, appropriate and necessary logistics, technical or research assistance and support from the private sector community, the academe, trade associations, and NGOs, in order to enable the Mission to better serve the national interest.

SECTION 6. Funding. — The initial appropriations necessary to achieve the objectives of this Order shall be drawn from existing appropriations of the Department of Foreign Affairs and supplemented by the President's Contingent Fund and other approved sources. Succeeding appropriations shall be incorporated in the budget proposals of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and, where appropriate, in the budget proposals of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture or the NEDA.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. — The provisions of this Order are hereby declared to be separable, and in the event that any provision or part thereof is declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts thereof which are not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. — Any Order, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. — This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 19th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Four.