Department of Trade

      The Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement-Working Group on Trade in Services (ACAFTA-WGTIS)is holding in Bali, Indonesia in hybrid format on 25-29 September 2023. The meeting was attended by representatives from all ASEAN Member States,the ASEAN Secretariat Office and Canada. Two officials from Department of Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar and officials from Philippines have also joined the meeting virtually.

The Fifth ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) Negotiation was held virtually on 13 September 2023.

The Meeting was held in plenary and attended by all ASEAN Member States (AMS), and the ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting was chaired by Ms. Lolibeth Ramit-Medrano, Commissioner of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), Chair of the AFAC Negotiation.

The meeting discussed on the draft text, focusing on concluding the negotiation of Article(4) Appropriate Measures against Anti-Competitive Activities and Article(5) .

The 3rd meeting on the review of Competition law and rules was held in hybrid both in-person and online on 12 September, 2023.

The meeting was chaired by the Vice-chairman of Myanmar Competition Commission.

The members of Myanmar Competition Commission and the officials from Commission Office were present.

The attendees discussed the strength and weakness of the implementation of the law and drafting the proposed amendment text to upgrade.

The Global Competition Review (GCR) Live Law Leaders Asia-Pacific 2023 (Conference) was held on 29 and 30 August 2023 in Singapore.

The programme comprised a pre-eminent complement of speakers-both external and internal counsel, academics, economists, as well as a great number of enforcement officials - from across the region and globally.

U Than Maung, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar Competition Commission attended the conference as a representative from Myanmar.

          “Competition Policy in Free Trade Agreements” Webinar for ASEAN organized by ASEAN and the International Trade Centre was virtual held on 29th August 2023.

          Representatives from the Competition in ASEAN member States, ASEAN Secretariat and Competition Experts from International Trade Centre attended the webinar.

     The fourth round of negotiation on ASEAN Framework Agreement on Competition (AFAC) was virtually held on 23rd August 2023.

     Ms. LolibethRamit-Medrano, Chair of the Negotiation for the AFAC, Commissioner of the Philippines Competition Commission (PCC) deliverd the opening remarks. Representatives from the Competition Sectors in ASEAN member Statesand the ASEAN Secretariat Office attended the meeting.

The third round of negotiation of the Working Group on Competition and Consumer Protection (WGCC) for the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement was virtually held on 15th August 2023.

Representatives from the Competition and Consumer Protection Sectors in ASEAN member States, China and the ASEAN Secretariat Office attended the meeting.

As representatives from Myanmar, officials from the Department of Trade and the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Commerce were present.

The 2nd caucus for the third round of negotiation of the Working Group on Competition and Consumer Protection (WGCC) for the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement was virtually held on 10th August 2023.

Representatives from the Competition and Consumer Protection Sectors in ASEAN member States and the ASEAN Secretariat Office attended the meeting.

As representatives from Myanmar, officials from the Department of Trade and the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Commerce were present.

    The 3rd Special CCS Meeting on ASFF was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR hybrid (in person + virtual) on 7-9 August 2023. The meeting was attended by representatives from all ASEAN Member States and the ASEAN Secretariat Office. Two officials from Department of Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar and officials from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Thailand have also joined the meeting virtually.

    The meeting has been discussing AMS’s position on the draft text of ASEAN Services Facilitation Framework – ASFF and its work plan.

  The First ASEAN Caucus for the fourth meeting of the Sub-Working Group on Rules of Origin for the ASEAN-CANADA FTA was virtually held on 27 July 2023. The Meeting war chaired by Mr. Aziz Sharkawi, Senior Principal Assistant Director, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia. Responsible  Focal persons from ASEAN Member Countries and representatives from ASEAN Secretariat Office joined the meeting. Two Representatives from each of the Department of Trade and Myanmar Customs Department attended the meeting.