TUCP seeks higher tariff on imports

The country’s largest labor group is pressing for higher tariffs on imported products to prevent further displacement of workers nationwide.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on government negotiators in the on-going World Trade Organization (WTO) talks to reject proposals for further reduction in taxes imposed on foreign goods.

"Local products are already losing the competition against imported products and lowering the tariff would mean further loss in sales and employment," TUCP director for education Ariel Castro said.

Castro noted that developing countries led by the United States and European Union are pushing for greater market access through lower tariffs.

According to Castro, the TUCP has joined forces with trade unions from 11 other developing countries in pushing for a fair multilateral trade deal at the WTO.

Other signatories to the agreement were Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Namibia, South Africa, Tunisia and Venezuela).

"We have an agreement to call on our trade leaders to negotiate for higher tariff for foreign goods in order to protect certain sensitive industries such as agriculture, clothing and footwear," Castro explained.

The Filipino Chinese business community, earlier, reported that many companies have folded up after losing substantial market share to much cheaper imported products.

Castro pointed out that imposing higher tariff is the only way to stop the dominance of foreign goods and resolve the country’s high unemployment rate.