PH, Thailand agree to settle cigarette dispute

THE Philippines and Thailand recently agreed to resolve the customs valuation dispute involving Philippine tobacco products, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.

The WTO in a statement posted on its website said that on June 7, “the Philippines and Thailand signed at the WTO a bilateral Understanding on Agreed Procedures Toward a Comprehensive Settlement of the Dispute in Thailand — Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines (DS371).”

The understanding was signed by both countries’ permanent representatives to the WTO in Geneva, or ambassadors Manuel A.J. Teehankee and Pimchanok Pitfield.

“The understanding on agreed procedures was negotiated between the two Asean members to be consistent with relevant bilateral treaties, Asean treaties and values, WTO law and agreements including the customs…