Strategic Trade Management Conference in the Philippines

The 2024 Strategic Trade Management Conference took place from 9 to 12 September 2024 in Manila, the capital of the Philippines. It was co-hosted by the United States and the host country, the Philippines, and attended by some 300 delegates from countries and international organisations around the world. The conference rotates among Southeast Asian countries and focuses on strategic trade management and cooperation in strategic trade management. Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos attended and delivered the opening address.

Figure 1: The President of the Philippines poses for a photo with conference delegates

The conference discussed solutions to promote the harmonisation of strategic trade management policies in Southeast Asia, foster the development of a strategic trade approach across ASEAN, address trade security gaps and promote broader regional cooperation.

The conference also discussed the role of women in strategic trade, promoting equality, the advancement of women and women's leadership in strategic trade.

The Vietnamese delegation to the conference comprised Standing Office 81 – Chemical Corps/Ministry of National Defence; the Agency of Foreign Trade/Ministry of Industry and Trade; and the General Department of Vietnam Customs/Ministry of Finance. At the conference, a delegate from the Agency of Foreign Trade/Ministry of Industry and Trade, on behalf of Vietnam, shared information on improving Vietnam's legal framework on strategic trade management and countering the proliferation of WMD.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation held bilateral meetings and courtesy calls with delegates from the US Bureau of Industry and Security, the EXBS Program and Japan's export control office. At the meeting, the representative of the Agency of Foreign Trade asked the US side to facilitate the licensing of shipments of semiconductors imported by Vietnam from the United States.

Figure 2: A Vietnamese representative speaks at the conference

Figure 3: The Vietnamese delegation at the conference

The organisers also arranged for the Vietnamese delegation to meet and share experience in improving legal frameworks for strategic trade control with Costa Rica, Panama and Chile. These meetings and exchanges of experience helped enhance Vietnam's image and role in strategic trade management and promote trade cooperation between countries.

Tao Van Thuan – Centre 81