RP brings Australia issue before WTO

Philippine officials aired before the World Trade Organization (WTO) the country’s grievances against Australia’s sanitary and phytosanitary measures on the importation of fresh fruits and vegetables from certain countries, including the Philippines.

In a face-off with Australian officials at WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland last Nov. 15, the Philippine authorities pointed out that Canberra’s rules are lacking in transparency, potentially discriminatory and are more of trade restrictions rather than intended to protect human, animal and plant life as well as health.

The representatives from the European Commission, Thailand and the Advisory Center for WTO Law also noted the same things during the consultations where preliminary questions were propounded to clarify the factual basis of the dispute.

Australia has certain prohibitions on the importation of fruits and vegetables, particularly fresh pineapples from the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands.

The government has also protested Canberra’s ban on Philippine bananas, saying it is an unfair practice.

The Philippines stressed that Australia’s measures are inconsistent with WTO rules and violate the covered agreements of the WTO, particularly the relevant provisions of the 1994 General Agreements of Tariff and Trade, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.