Ramos certifies anti-dumping measure<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos approved
\nyesterday an anti-dumping measure to protect small and medium
\nscale business enterprises if the General Agreement on Tariffs
\nand Trade (GATT) is ratified.<\/p>\n
The measure provides protection to locally manufactured
\nproducts by preventing the uncontrolled entry of imported goods
\ninto the country even after the GATT takes effect.<\/p>\n
Ramos said the anti-dumping measure filed in the House of
\nRepresentatives was among the \"major adjustment measures\"
\nundertaken as the Philippines prepares to ratify the Uruguay
\nRound of the GATT.<\/p>\n
\"This is precisely one of the measures put in place in order
\nto protect our producers in small and medium enterprises,\" Ramos
\ntold reporters at a news conference.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Philippine Senate began the ratification
\nprocess of the GATT on Wednesday with floor debates on how it
\nwould affect the economy.<\/p>\n
Senate Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Blas Ople urged his
\n22 colleagues to ratify the global accord, saying \"there is
\nabsolutely no question that ratification is in the best interest
\nof our country and people.\"<\/p>\n
Senator Gloria Arroyo, one of the opponents, cited the need to
\nprovide \"safety nets\" to protect economic sectors which would be
\nhit hard by tariff reductions such as in agriculture.<\/p>\n
She also asked whether the government had the money for such
\nsafety nets.<\/p>\n
Ramos has warned that failure to ratify the agreement by the
\ntime it takes effect next year would \"doom\" Filipinos to economic
\nisolation and stagnation.<\/p>\n
Pro-GATT economists have said the Philippines stood to lose
\nUS$80 million a year if the senate votes against it.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramos-certifies-anti-dumping-measure-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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