A World Trade Organisation appeal panel re-iterates a WTO ruling that the high excise taxes on imported liquor imposed by the Philippines government is against rules.

Jake, my friend with whom I had watched ‘Busong’, is on a tour along with his cousin, who works with Enigma Marketing. It was Jake who sent me this interesting link, about this WTO ruling and the appeal panel upholding the ruling. I found it interesting indeed- Manila imposing a tax and WTO going against it!

 

WTO had ruled that the tax on imported liquor that Philippines has imposed was unfair to outside distillers, but then Philippines went in for an appeal. But the appeal panel too has upheld the WTO ruling and has pointed out that the tax is a breach of trade rules.

The European Union and the US had alleged that this tax, though it helps domestic producers, would hit hard at imported hard liquor. It was pointed out that this tax had adversely affected the export of European liquor to Philippines in recent times.