Viet Nam

Trade and trade policy play a key role in the green transition needed to tackle climate change, the world’s biggest threat to human development and ecological survival. The Climate Competitiveness project aims to support developing countries’ engagement in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE).

The CTE contributes to identifying and understanding the relationship between trade and the environment in order to promote sustainable development.

This project will work with seven countries - Kenya, Mauritius, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Viet Nam and the Philippines - to assess how trade and trade policy can support climate mitigation and adaptation objectives.

Furthermore, it will support small businesses to build climate resilience as well as facilitate the preparation of submissions by the countries.

Building capacity on EUDR in the Philippines

17th January 2025 

The International Trade Centre and the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines held practical workshops on the European Union Deforestation-Free Product Regulation (EUDR)  in various parts of the country.  

Within the ambit of the European Union funded Climate Competitiveness Project, the workshops were held in Manila, Davao City for cacao stakeholders, and in Zamboanga City for rubber stakeholders. The sessions brought together private sector stakeholders and policy institutions to learn more about the upcoming regulation set to take effect later this year. 

The workshops were attended by almost 180 participants, with high-level representation from the regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry. The European Union was represented by Mr. Philipp Dupuis, Head of Trade, European Union Delegation to the Philippines.  

The workshop was conducted by Ms. Michaela Summerer, Policy Advisor, Trade and Environment, International Trade Centre. The workshop content focused on the obligations and requirements of stakeholders, supply chain scenarios and how to prepare for them, and data collection and compliance with the regulation.  

The key discussions during the workshop centered on the practical challenges of complying with the regulation, with stakeholders bringing up issues such as producing documentations for EU operators, providing accurate geolocation information, and deployment of a traceability system.  

Following the workshop in Davao, the ITC team accompanied by Mr. Dante Muyco, the chairperson of the Davao Regional Cacao Industry Council made avisitto Sumayo Farm, Puentespina Farm of Malagos Chocolate, and Gran Verde Farm. The team hadthe  opportunity to see how sustainability mechanisms are implemented in the industry, as well as the adoption of innovative practices such as regenerative farming, traceability, and circular economy.  

The EU Deforestation-Free Product Regulation is set to be fully operational by end of 2025, concluding the current transitional period allowing businesses to adjust to the new requirements. As the workshop concluded, there is still work to be done to ensure practical information on the regulation is disseminated. The workshops held mark an important step toward this. 

ITC and Dominican Republic agree on building sargassum value chains

17 December 2024

In December 2024, ITC received a delegation of the Dominican Republic at its headquarters, led by Manuel Diaz Franjul, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Together with ITC Director Escipion Joaquin Oliveira Gomez, the team discussed the challenges the country is facing due to the sargassum seaweed "invasion".

Under the EU-funded "Climate Competitiveness" project, ITC will strengthen the emerging value chain for sargassum in the Dominican Republic. Small businesses and researchers are already active in promising areas where further investment is needed, including collection of sargassum; production of goods from sargassum (construction material, fertilizers or compost); feasibility of sargassum as a source of combustible organic matter for energy generation.

In 2025, ITC looks forward to deepening engagement on sargassum value chains with the Dominican Republic and its small businesses as well as with other affected Caribbean states.

Report on renewable and trade released

30 October 2024

Addressing the climate crisis requires decarbonization of the global economy with around 75% of the world's emissions coming from the energy supply. Under the Climate Competitiveness project ITC has prepared a report that looks at the role of trade policy in supporting the energy transition in developing countries. The main findings are that low tariffs have reduced the cost of renewable energy 🌞🍃 deployment by enabling access to affordable imports. 

The analysis offers policy options for developing countries, including stronger regulatory frameworks, investment in export market knowledge, regional market expansion and capacity building in customs and standards. Trade agreements can also attract foreign investment and ease market entry of experts. The report may be accessed here: https://www.intracen.org/news-and-events/news/trade-powers-energy-transition-and-green-job-creation-in-developing-countries

ITC looks forward to further engage with developing countries on Aid for Trade, for example through WTO fora such as the Trade and Environment week (October 2024) to support the energy transition and job creation.

ITC and Philippines Department of Trade and Industry launch cooperation on trade and climate change

1 August 2024

ITC and the Philippines' Department for Trade and Industry's Bureau of International Trade Relations convened a workshop in July in Manila to discuss the nexus between trade and climate change. In a project funded by the European Union, the two organizations will work together to provide evidence on how trade can support both climate mitigation and adapt to policy objectives. It will also provide capacity building to small businesses on environment related issues.