Phl to resume talks with Thailand

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine government intends to pursue bilateral talks with Thailand on outstanding issues concerning the latter’s compliance to a ruling issued by the World Trade Organization (WTO) over a case covering taxes imposed on imported cigarettes.

Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal, Jr. told reporters the Philippines would hold bilateral talks with Thailand on the issue given the change in the latter’s political leadership.

 “There is a new government in Thailand. We’re assessing now the bilateral track,” he said.

In late August, Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha who took control of the country in a coup that toppled the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, was named prime minister by the legislature.

Cristobal said the Philippine government would resume talks with their new Thai counterparts soon.

In 2011, the WTO ruled that Thailand’s imposition of higher duties on imported cigarettes from the Philippines as in violation of global trading rules.