MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday called on other countries to work together against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to uphold global peace and security while creating an environment conducive for trade and progress.

Marcos spoke during the Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit in Taguig City, where stakeholders from various countries discussed issues on the export control of strategic goods “such as those used for military purposes or the production of weapons of mass destruction.”

In his speech, the Philippine leader noted that emerging civilian and military technologies gave rise to challenges in trade management. He said countries needed to “be more responsible and agile in addressing the speed and dual-use nature of these new technologies.”

“Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, our regulation strategy should be dynamic, adaptable, [and] forward-thinking,” Marcos Jr said. “We must also work together to create a system that is not only robust but is versatile, equitable, and also resilient.”

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The Philippine leader welcomed the hosting of the STM forum, which he said demonstrated the nation’s “faith in the power of collaboration to improve and secure our global supply chains as well as to open our doors for trade to flourish, for wealth to grow, and for people to prosper.”

“By leveraging our collective strengths, we can advance regional initiatives that ensure supply chain security, counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and insurgency, and create an environment where trade can thrive. This will be key to harnessing our collective economic prowess and sustaining our region as an epicenter of growth in this century,” he said. 

“The Philippines, for its part, has already launched a strategic investment plan focused on developing key industries, empowering us to position ourselves better in the global market. We have developed policies that require individuals and entities engaging in STMA-covered activities to register and to receive authorization to deliver their services,” he added. 

“We have also implemented programs to educate not only the border control and import/export officers in fulfilling their responsibilities but also stakeholders to properly comply with our rules and our regulations. We are conducting post-authorization audits, compliance checks, and compliance consultations through monitoring and inspection activities.”

Marcos said the government continued to “upgrade industry standards, modernize regulations, and further establish linkages through various trade and investment frameworks” such as the ASEAN, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity as part of efforts towards a more competitive region in the future.

According to Malacanang, the Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit 2024 convenes senior-level government officials from different strategic trade agencies across the globe to discuss the latest trends, issues and challenges surrounding Strategic Trade Management. 

The summit covers “aspects of counter-proliferation and serves as a platform for exchanging perspectives and best practices on promoting informed compliance and enforcing STM laws.”