GOVPH

Former Philippine WTO Ambassador Appointed to WTO Ad Hoc Appeal Body

Geneva, 16 June 2025 — The Philippines proudly announces the appointment of former Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., to the 10-member pool of arbitrators of the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). The MPIA is a plurilateral mechanism established by 53 WTO members as an interim solution to ensure continuity of the WTO’s two-tier dispute settlement system while the Appellate Body remains non-operational.

Atty. Esteban B. Conejos, former Philippine Ambassador to the World Trade Organization and DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs, answers questions during the collective interview in the selection of five new members of the MPIA pool of arbitrators.

Ambassador Conejos joins a distinguished group of ten (10) global legal experts serving as Arbitrators under the MPIA, which now comprises 53 WTO members, including the Philippines. The pool includes newly appointed and reappointed members from Brazil, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and others. Arbitrators are selected on a case-by-case basis by disputing parties to hear appeals of WTO panel rulings.

MPIA Arbitrators

• Mr Mateo Diego-Fernández ANDRADE (Mexico)
• Mr Ichiro ARAKI (Japan)
• Ms Ana T. CAETANO (Brazil)
• Mr Esteban B. CONEJOS JR. (Philippines)
• Mr Thomas COTTIER (Switzerland)
• Ms Locknie HSU (Singapore)
• Mr Alejandro JARA (Chile)
• Mr Paul Richard O’CONNOR (Australia)
• Mr Joost PAUWELYN (EU-Belgium)
• Mr Guohua YANG (China)

Ambassador Conejos expressed deep appreciation for the nomination, committing himself to the “highest standards of professional and ethical conduct,” as befitting the integrity required by the WTO dispute settlement system. “It is a distinct privilege to be nominated by the Philippines to participate in the partial recomposition of the MPIA arbitrator pool,” he said.

Philippine Ambassador to the WTO, H.E. Manuel A.J. Teehankee, welcomed the appointment, stating: “Ambassador Conejos’ appointment to the MPIA underscores the Philippines’ longstanding commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system. At a time when the WTO’s Appellate Body remains inoperative, the MPIA plays a critical role in preserving the right to two-tier adjudication and legal certainty in trade disputes. Ambassador Conejos brings unmatched expertise and will make the Philippines proud in this vital role.”

A seasoned diplomat and trade negotiator, Ambassador Conejos previously chaired the WTO Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation (PCTF), where he played a key role in the successful negotiation and subsequent implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA)—the first multilateral trade deal concluded since the WTO’s creation. He also served as a panellist in WTO dispute settlement proceedings, further strengthening the Philippines’ contribution to global trade governance.

Ambassador Conejos also previously served as Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs. A native of Ormoc City, he holds degrees in law from Ateneo de Manila University and a Master of Laws from Georgetown University.

His nomination was endorsed by the Philippine government with the support of the inter-agency Technical Committee on WTO Matters (TCWM), chaired by DTI Undersecretary Allan Gepty.

Ambassador Conejos will serve on a part-time basis for a term of three years, with the possibility of renewal.

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Philippines Organizes Session on Climate Competitiveness in a Changing World at the Sidelines of WTO’s Trade and Environment Week 2025

(From left to right) Mr. Vicente Yu, Philippine Trade and Climate Expert, Mr. Joachim Monkelbaan, Senior Fellow of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), H.E. Dr. José Roberto Sánchez Fung, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the WTO and UNCTAD, H.E. Brian Neil Joseph Glover, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the WTO, and Mr. Alexander Kasterine, Head of Trade and Environment-International Trade Centre.

3 July 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines convened a high-level panel session titled “Climate Competitiveness in a Changing World” on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade and Environment Week, held from 30 June to 4 July 2025 at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva.

Co-organized with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and supported by the European Union, the session brought together officials and experts from the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Mauritius to share their experiences in building climate resilience and pursuing sustainable economic growth through trade and investment.  

The session explored how climate-vulnerable developing countries can transform environmental risk into green economic opportunity.  Mr. Vicente Yu, a Philippine expert on trade and climate change, emphasized the need for a coherent, whole-of-government approach that integrates climate resilience with industrial policy, skills development, and sustainable trade. Noting World Bank estimates that climate change could reduce the Philippines’ GDP by up to 7.6% by 2030, he stressed the importance of aligning trade strategies with national development plans, such as the Philippine Development Plan, to secure a climate-competitive future.

The Philippines also drew from its recent ITC study, which found that the global shift toward sustainability presents new export opportunities in environmental goods and services, including semiconductors for renewable energy, critical minerals, and bio-based fuels. With abundant geothermal, solar, and wind resources, the country can further develop its renewable energy sector and leverage trade to build resilience. The report recommends enhancing MSME capacity, aligning with international climate standards, and using trade agreements to support export competitiveness and low-carbon development.  The ITC report is available here: https://www.intracen.org/news-and-events/news/green-trade-is-a-path-to-climate-resilience-for-the-philippines.

Ambassador José Sanchez Fung of the Permanent Mission of Dominican Republic, in his remarks, highlighted that “we are working to transform these vulnerabilities into climate competitiveness using trade, investment and innovation to drive economic growth and sustainable development.” As a concrete example, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dominican Republic Mr. José Guillermo Sarita Paulino illustrated the country’s innovative solution in maximizing the opportunity of the sargassum seaweed, which is considered to be disruptive to fisheries and tourism, by transforming it into a resource for industrial and agricultural use, such as the development of agricultural bio stimulant made from sargassum called Marine Symbiotic. 

(From left to right) Mr. Danandjay Luximon, Deputy Director for Trade Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Mr. Vicente Yu, Consultant of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the WTO, and Mr. José Guillermo Sarita Paulino, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dominican Republic.

Mauritius, represented by Ambassador Brian Glover, shared insights from its implementation of the EU-funded Climate Competitiveness Project, which aligns with the country’s Circular Economy Action Plan. Mr. Danandjay Luximon, Deputy Director of Trade Policy, highlighted efforts in battery waste management and green investment to support a low-carbon economy.

Moderating the session, Mr. Joachim Monkelbaan of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) concluded by stressing that “climate competitiveness is not a luxury, but a necessity” for achieving sustainable development and ensuring long-term trade viability.

This year marks the sixth edition of the Trade and Environment Week, in which the WTO Members and the Committee on Trade and Environment provide a platform to discuss topics relevant to the trade and environment community.  The recording of all the WTO Trade and Environment Week sessions, as well as presentations, may be accessed at its dedicated page.

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GENEVA-BASED ASEAN DIPLOMATS GATHERED FOR ANNUAL FAMILY DAY EVENT

19 July 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - Some 400 diplomatic personnel with family members from ASEAN missions in Geneva gathered on 19 July 2025 to promote friendship and cooperation among ASEAN member-states through recreational activities and sharing of culinary specialties.

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