In a recent announcement, the Philippines proudly shared the news of the appointment of former Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Esteban B. Conejos, Jr., to the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA). This mechanism was established by 53 WTO members to ensure continuity of the dispute settlement system while the Appellate Body is non-operational.
Atty. Esteban B. Conejos, former Philippine Ambassador to the WTO, participated in the selection process of the five new members of the MPIA arbitrators pool. He joins a group of 10 global legal experts serving as Arbitrators under the MPIA, which includes members from various countries such as Brazil, Japan, Singapore, and Australia.
MPIA Arbitrators
- Mr Mateo Diego-Fernández ANDRADE (Mexico)
- Mr Ichiro ARAKI (Japan)
- Ms Ana T. CAETANO (Brazil)
- Mr Esteban B. CONEJOS JR. (Philippines)
- Mr Thomas COTTIER (Switzerland)
- Ms Locknie HSU (Singapore)
- Mr Alejandro JARA (Chile)
- Mr Paul Richard O’CONNOR (Australia)
- Mr Joost PAUWELYN (EU-Belgium)
- Mr Guohua YANG (China)
Ambassador Conejos expressed gratitude for the nomination and emphasized his commitment to upholding professional and ethical standards required by the WTO dispute settlement system. Philippine Ambassador to the WTO, Manuel A.J. Teehankee, praised Conejos' appointment, highlighting the country's dedication to the multilateral trading system.
With a background in diplomacy and trade negotiations, Ambassador Conejos has been actively involved in WTO proceedings, including chairing the WTO Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation. His nomination was supported by the Philippine government and the Technical Committee on WTO Matters.
Ambassador Conejos, a native of Ormoc City, holds law degrees from Ateneo de Manila University and Georgetown University. He will serve as an MPIA arbitrator on a part-time basis for three years, with the possibility of renewal.
For more details, visit the official website at https://wtopm.dfa.gov.ph/.
Source: DFA
