The World Trade Organization (WTO) has thrown its support behind the Philippines’ economic reform agenda, with Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urging the country to sustain policy momentum as rising geopolitical tensions and a fragile global economy continue to test international trade.
Meeting Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty on the sidelines of the Philippines’ sixth Trade Policy Review in Geneva, Okonjo-Iweala commended the country’s resilience amid global headwinds, highlighting the continued strength of its services sector as well as exports of electronics and technology products.
She encouraged the Philippines to press ahead with reforms aimed at improving competitiveness, strengthening the business climate, and deepening the country’s integration into the global trading system.
The endorsement comes as the Philippines seeks to attract more investment by accelerating structural reforms while diversifying growth drivers beyond traditional exports.
Gepty thanked the WTO for its support during the country’s Trade Policy Review and reaffirmed Manila’s commitment to an open, transparent, non-discriminatory, rules-based, and inclusive multilateral trading system.
The review, completed this week, drew positive assessments from WTO members, who cited the Philippines’ efforts to liberalize trade and investment policies, modernize infrastructure, advance digital economy initiatives, and reduce barriers to doing business despite successive global disruptions.
The favorable assessment adds to a growing list of international endorsements of the country’s economic policy direction, even as global trade faces mounting uncertainty from geopolitical conflicts, supply chain realignments, and slowing growth in major economies.
Okonjo-Iweala and Gepty also discussed how the Philippines can help advance the WTO’s priorities following the organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon, earlier this year.
The meeting signals continued confidence from the global trade body that the Philippines is on a reform path capable of supporting more resilient, investment-led growth. It also underscores the importance of maintaining policy continuity as the country positions itself to capture opportunities from shifting global supply chains and the expanding digital economy.
