INTERNATIONAL TRADE GROUP

The International Trade Group, headed by Undersecretary Atty. Allan B. Gepty, is responsible for trade policy formulation, trade advocacy, trade negotiations, and representation at the multilateral, regional and bilateral level such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Under the ITG are two (2) units, to wit: Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR), and Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO).
 
BIS is mandated to provide assistance to Philippine industries confronted by trade remedy actions, conduct trade remedies investigations, disseminate timely and accurate information on imports to stakeholders, and adopt sound import policies, programs and guidelines. BITR acts as the primary agent responsible for all matters pertaining to international trade relations in various fora. STMO is mandated to implement strategies, policies, and guidelines formulated by the National Security Council – Strategic Trade Management Committee (NSC-STMC) and carries out registration and authorization services for persons who engaged or intend to engage in the trade of strategic goods, specifically export, re-export, re-assignment, transit, transshipment, import and provision of related services, among others. Under ITG as an attached agency is Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC).
 
The DTI Offices and their respective Officials under ITG are the following:
Portrait of Director Marie Sherylyn Aquia

[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#aquia”]Marie Sherylyn D. Aquia, MBA [/su_lightbox]

Director
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[su_lightbox type=”inline” src=”#janice”] Atty. Janice Sacedon-Dimayacyac [/su_lightbox]

Director
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Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR)

The Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR) is the primary agency responsible for all matters relating to international trade policy and negotiations. The Bureau’s mandate as stated in Executive Order 133 and 292 signed by then president Corazon C. Aquino in 1987 includes:
  • formulation of positions and strategies for trade negotiations, consultations and conferences;
  • coordination with other Department and agencies of the Philippine government with the view of assuring consistency in the government’s positions in trade negotiations and on other activities pertaining to foreign trade relations; 
  • consultation with industry groups and the provision of technical advice and information on the above matter and activities;
  • identification of tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting products of interest to the Philippines and negotiating measures for liberalizing them at bilateral, regional and multilateral form; and
  • evaluation and submission of recommendations on existing and proposed commercial policies of the Philippines.
The Bureau has three divisions namely:
  • Bilateral Relations Division;
  • Multilateral Relations Division; and
  • Regional Relations Division.

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Export Marketing Bureau (EMB)
Oversees the development, promotion, and monitoring of PH exports. Provides exporters the enabling environment to make them globally competitive.

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Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)
Assists exporters by developing their core competencies in the areas of marketing, promotion, and capability building through professionally managed and well-selected programs and activities, such as organizing international trade fairs.

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Design Center of the Philippines (DCP)
Promotes industrial designs as a tool for improving the quality and competitiveness of Philippine products. It services the design needs and requirements of small and medium enterprises by providing services on product/package design, product technology demonstration, design & technicical information, and library information on design-related topics.

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Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC)
Designs and implements training programs on export marketing and management, entrepreneurial management, quality management and productivity, and trade exhibition management and participation. PTTC conducts post-training advisory and counseling services, offers customized in-company training programs and services, and provides events management support. It is also an events venue for MSMEs and large enterprises to promote their products as it markets, rents out, and maintains exhibition and training room facilities.

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Bureau of Import Services (BIS)
BIS is mandated to provide assistance to Philippine industries confronted by trade remedy actions, conduct trade remedies investigations, disseminate timely and accurate information on imports to stakeholders, and adopt sound import policies, programs and guidelines.

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Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO)
STMO is mandated to implement strategies, policies, and guidelines formulated by the National Security Council – Strategic Trade Management Committee (NSC-STMC) and carries out registration and authorization services for persons who engaged or intend to engage in the trade of strategic goods, specifically export, re-export, re-assignment, transit, transshipment, import and provision of related services, among others.

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Marie Sherylyn “Lyn” Deleña Aquia is the Director of the Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR), Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines. Lyn has an MBA (high honors) from Boston University, a BA in Communication Research from the University of the Philippines Diliman and masters credits in Sociology from the Ateneo de Manila University. She holds diplomas in international trade policy and law from the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation and the International Development Law Organization.
 
She has worked on WTO, APEC, ASEAN, UNCTAD and GSP issues since 1996, helping coordinate the formulation of national positions for the Philippines’ external trade strategy. She served as the special assistant of the Co-Chairperson for the Private Sector of the National Competitiveness Council in 2007-2008 and was Chairperson of the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment in 2016-2017. Since 2016, she has been the Philippines’ Deputy Senior Official to APEC. As BITR Director, she is the Deputy Chief Negotiator of IPEF and PH-UAE FTA negotiations. Starting in 2024, Lyn has been assigned as the Philippines’ Senior Economic Official to the ASEAN.
 
Her recent work focuses on regional economic integration, digital trade, trade and sustainability, trade facilitation, MSME and economic cooperation. She is the co-chairperson for ASEAN of the MSME working groups in the ASEAN-ANZFTA Upgrade, ASEAN-Canada negotiations and ASEAN-China Upgrade. She is the current co-chairperson of the RCEP Committee on Business Environment.

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Atty. Janice Sacedon-Dimayacyac is the Director of the Department of Trade and Industry – Strategic Trade Management Office.

Director Dimayacyac plays an instrumental role in implementing Republic Act No. 10697, better known as the Strategic Trade Management Act.

Before she transitioned into strategic trade management (STM), she established a remarkable legal career within the judiciary, notably serving in the Supreme Court of the Philippines and the Court of Tax Appeals, along with her tenure at one of the leading tax firms in the country. Her broad legal expertise and strong background in export controls, nonproliferation strategies, sanctions implementation, economic security frameworks, counter-proliferation financing, and the screening of foreign direct investments have been instrumental in developing an effective STM in the country. Furthermore, her participation in numerous advanced training programs and international conferences has allowed her to stay ahead of current trends in STM, ensuring that the legal and regulatory framework of the Philippines remains aligned with global standards.

Her initiatives have produced measurable outcomes, as evidenced by the 2023/2024 Peddling Peril Index (PPI), in which the Philippines is ranked 48th among 200 nations, securing third place among Southeast Asian countries. Recognized for her leadership and outstanding contributions, Director Dimayacyac was awarded DTI SPRINTS 2021 Executive of the Year.

Director Dimayacyac was the Valedictorian of her graduating class in both grade school and high school. She has earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, graduating Cum Laude, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Santo Tomas.

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