Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters yesterday the Philippines is looking at the imposition of tariff on automobiles from Thailand as the latter has yet to implement the WTO’s decision. Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said the DTI is studying retaliation as an option to make Thailand comply with the WTO decision which favored the Philippines on the cigarette tax case. In 2008, the government filed a case on behalf of Philip Morris Philippines against Thailand for the imposition of higher duties on cigarettes made from the Philippines. As Thailand has lost panel and appellate rulings, the Philippines sees the need for Thailand to accept the ruling. Whereas if that’s a tariff, there’s a clear bit of protection and there’s revenue, the tariff rate.

Source: Philippine Star November 13, 2019 16:00 UTC