Loreto, Jesus Inno Jaime C.

Special Issues in International Law

G06 11595868 Atty. La Vina
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Good Afternoon Mr./ Ms. President,

Good Afternoon Members of the Senate,

Last year, this senate approved the WTO trade facilitation agreement. The TFA enables streamlined,
transparent, and efficient customs procedures which would result to a more conducive trading
environment for business, and reduce prices for consumers and producers.

In addition, Mr./ Ms President, the procedures and provisions in the TFA establishes a more efficient
and streamlined mechanism for traders which in turn contribute to improving the overall experience
of doing business in the Philippines.

This Agreement would benefit the Philippines finds great value on the implementation of the TFA
not just for the big businesses but also for local micro, small and medium enterprises with the
prospects of lowering trade costs and streamlining border procedures, which will enable them to
participate more actively in international trade.

But Mr. /Ms. President, since the Philippines have ratified its membership in the WTO nearly two
decades, there have been mix results of our participation in the said organization. Our service and
manufacturing sector have greatly improved but our agriculture sector was negatively affected. Our
commitments to the WTO have reduced the generation of farmers. It also reduced the agricultural
lands which were turned to factories or BPO service centers.

Mr. /Ms. President, these were cause to the lower price of imported agricultural products due to our
commitment with the WTO which competed against our local agricultural products. The farmers were
forced to lower the farm price even though it nearly lowers their margin profits. These led to
insolvency of our farmers and forcibly sold their land.

To this, Mr. /Ms. President, I vote against the ratification of the WTO Ratification because it doesnt
have any benefits to the agricultural sector and farmers.