ASEAN meeting

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (second column, third from left) leads the Philippine delegation in the 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat, which kicks off on March 2. During the first day of the retreat, Economic Ministers discussed the ASEAN Economic Community’s annual priorities under Brunei’s Chairmanship theme of ‘We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper. Lopez exchanged views with the ministers on the member states’ post-pandemic initiatives to facilitate and support the region’s coordinated response to COVID-19, including the consolidated program to reduce non-tariff measures in ASEAN and strengthening global value chains.