Asean countries back RP in trade war with Australia

Member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have committed to support the Philippines in its trade war with Australia.

This developed as Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara announced that the government is adopting a policy of 'progressive reduction' on imports from Australia. During the last five years, Australia has enjoyed an average $572 million trade surplus. In 1999, it registered a $350-million trade surplus in agriculture with the Philippines.

Angara said the government is also seriously considering terminating its membership with the Cairns Group, a powerful third force during the GATT Uruguay Round negotiations headed by Australia.

He said they have been receiving heavy pressure and petitions from farmers' groups to pull out of the Cairns Group because it is no longer serving the interest of developing countries. "With the leader of the Cairns Group an unfair trade, we are considering pulling out and instead aligning with like-minded developing nations," Angara said.

A resolution filed at the House of Representatives by Rep. Leonardo Montemayor is seeking the Philippines' pull-out from Cairns, which has 18 member-nations.

Meanwhile, ASEAN countries that have similar grievances against Australia are expected to join the Philippines in the dispute settlement process which has already been initiated in Geneva. Specific trade issues have likewise been raised by the Philippines against Australia at the World Trade Organizations (WTO) agriculture and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) committees.

During a recent meeting of the SEAN Ministers for Agriculture and Food (AMAF) in Brunei, the Philippine government obtained the commitment of the group on a unified ASEAN position to be submitted to relevant WTO committees outlining the Philippines and other countries' experienced with Australia.

The Philippines has already informed the WTO if its intention to enter into dispute settlement against Australia, after the latter refused the entry of Philippine tropical fruits such as mangoes, pineapples, and bananas.

In the ASEAN meeting. Thai officials revealed that they have been waiting for 15 years for Australia to approve Thailand's request that it be allowed to export durian.