EU, Thailand to join Philippines in WTO meeting with Australia
EU, Thailand to join Philippines in WTO meeting with Australia
Dow Jones, Manila
The European Union (EU) and Thailand will join the Philippines
in its formal consultations with Australia on fruit trade
scheduled to commence Nov. 15 before the World Trade Organization
(WTO), the Department of Agriculture said Tuesday.
The Philippines earlier requested the WTO's dispute settlement
board, or DSB, for bilateral consultations with Australia
following Canberra's rejection of Manila's bid to export its
fresh tropical fruits to Australia.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Segfredo Serrano said the E.U.
and Thailand have also the option of filing their own complaints
against Australia before the DSB if their concerns aren't
addressed.
The consultation is a prerequisite for the eventual filing of
dispute settlement proceedings against Australia.
The Philippines had specifically requested for consultations
regarding Canberra's quarantine rules and relevant legislation
governing import of fresh fruits and vegetables.
"We will pursue the filing of a case against Australia if our
concerns over their quarantine rules are not properly addressed,"
Serrano told reporters.
Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor also said that two
major dairy-importing firms in the country are scouting for other
sources of their dairy imports which they traditionally get from
Australia.
Montemayor refused to divulge the identity of the two firms
but said the department is assisting them in seeking other
sources of dairy imports.
The Philippines imports about 99 percent of its annual dairy
requirement, about 40 percent of which come from Australia.
Montemayor also wouldn't comment on suggestions that such a
move is in retaliation over Australia's refusal to import
Philippine fresh tropical fruits.
Montemayor earlier said local beef importers are also eying
alternative sources of cattle and beef imports. The country
imports about 200,000 heads of cattle from Australia annually.
Serrano said the EU and Thailand last week formally informed
Philippine Permanent Representative to WTO Edsel Custodio of
their intention to join the country in its discussions with
Australia.
The consultations may be completed within the year after which
the Philippines as well as the EU and Thailand will decide as to
whether or not they, as individual countries, will file a formal
complaint against Australia, Serrano said.
According to Serrano, the results of the discussions will be
forwarded to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who will have to
make the final decision about the filing of a case against
Canberra.