Phl optimistic of continued trade benefits under US GSP

MANILA, Philippines - The government is optimistic the country will continue to enjoy trade benefits under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) even as its workers’ rights practices remain under review.

“I am hopeful that they will allow us to continue to benefit (from the GSP),” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz told reporters in a chance interview.

This, as she noted the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has already submitted to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) an update on the progress regarding the government’s move to define sectors in which the department can exercise assumption of jurisdiction over labor disputes.

Last June, the USTR said in its 2012 GSP Annual Review the Philippines will continue to enjoy duty-free entry for goods to the US under the GSP but its workers’ rights practices will continue to be reviewed.

The USTR has also granted the Philippines’ petition to make the following products eligible under the GSP: twine, cordage, rope and cables of abaca or other hard leaf fibers.

“Several other country practice petitions accepted in previous years remain under review: Indonesia, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan regarding protection of IPR (intellectual property rights), and Fiji, Georgia, Iraq, Niger, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan regarding worker rights,” the USTR said.

In 2007, Washington-based International Labor Rights Forum filed a petition before the USTR to look into the Philippines’ worker rights practices citing unionist killings.

The group noted that trade benefits under the GSP should only be given to countries which afford internationally recognized worker rights.

Baldoz said that as part of the review, the government has been asked by the USTR about the status of the assumption of jurisdiction or essential services bill.

The assumption of jurisdiction or essential services bill seeks to limit DOLE’s power to assume jurisdiction over labor disputes to essential services or those if interrupted would endanger the whole or part of the population such as hospitals, water supply and electricity.

“The USTR said that if we cannot commit to legislation on essential services, we can issue a Department Order (DO). I issued a DO and submitted it to them last month,” she said.