No trade sanctions from WTO, says DA

There is no cause for concern about possible sanctions against the Philippines related to rice trade as complaints against the country do not appear forthcoming despite warnings from certain quarters, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Citing the Philippine Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Switzerland, Agriculture Undersecretary Emerson U. Palad told reporters there were no indications that any such complaint would be filed against the Philippines.

“I don’t think [we] need to worry because negotiations on access to our rice market are ongoing,” Palad said, adding that government negotiators are in talks with their counterparts from Australia, Canada, the United States and Thailand.

“As of now there are no complaints filed before WTO against the Philippines,” he said. “No WTO member-country is questioning the Philippines’ implementation of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports.”

The DA spokesperson was reacting to reports that the Philippines may face sanctions because the government continues to impose limits on the importation of the staple grain.

Regarding warnings on possible trade sanctions, the agriculture-industry alliance Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) has scored “former agriculture department officials and self-styled trade experts” for sowing such fears.

Sinag said in a statement that while the Philippines has 22 previous and existing dispute settlement cases at the WTO, no sanctions were ever imposed against the country even if it was found in alleged violation of certain WTO commitments.

“It is clear that ‘fear mongering’ only serves the interest of smugglers who continue to insist on permit-less importation,” the group said.

Moreover, Sinag said private sector rice importers cannot flood the Philippine market with foreign supplies at their will since restrictions on imports are still in effect.

Sinag noted that the Philippines had filed with the WTO its “Request for a Waiver relating to Special Treatment for Rice,” asking for the continued effectiveness of restrictions, which was unchallenged in any of the WTO’s general council meetings held in 2013.