In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 19th Asean Economic Community Council Meeting on November 10. The memorandum is part of the regional bloc’s initiatives to respond to Covid-19 to ensure the smooth flow of essential goods associated with combating the pandemic. It also seeks to facilitate timely information sharing among member-states on trade-related measures on essential goods and supplies. The MoU also calls on Asean members to refrain from introducing or maintaining trade restrictive measures on essential goods, except when there is a public health emergency. Any measure that an Asean member deems necessary to implement must conform its rights and obligations under the World Trade Organization and the Asean Trade in Goods agreement.

Source: Manila Times November 19, 2020 16:30 UTC