SEATCA

The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) welcomes the expressed willingness of new Philippine Health Secretary Enrique Ona to push for higher tobacco taxes, a move that, if carried through, would bring the Philippine policies in line with global commitments for curbing tobacco use.

 

SEATCA’s Philippine partners report that Dr. Ona, in a dialogue with health nongovernmental organizations last week, encouraged the advocates to push for tobacco taxes equivalent to as much as 10 US cents (or PHP4.50) per stick.

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, or WHO FCTC, to which the Philippines is a party, say that raising tobacco prices through tax increases “is an effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption… particularly (among) young persons (Article 6).”

GENEVA -- The Philippines has welcomed a ruling by the World Trade Organization on its complaint over Thai taxes on imported cigarettes, suggesting that Manila has won the dispute with its southeast Asian neighbor.

The case turns on "customs valuation" -- the value put by customs officials on imports which can differ from that declared by the importer, and is often a source of trade disputes.