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The European Union, being the Philippines’ 4th largest trading partner, has requested the establishment of a WTO panel on the Philippines’ excise tax regime on distilled spirits. The European Union considers that this regime discriminates against imported spirits and is thereby in clear breach of international trade rules. The EU has raised the issue with the Philippines repeatedly over the past years without success and WTO consultations held with the Philippines in Manila on 8 October 2009 failed to lead to a satisfactory solution.
European Trade Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: “Unfortunately, WTO consultations have not indicated any clear prospect of a possible remedy to this longstanding tax discrimination against imported spirits. Therefore, the EU has no other option than requesting a WTO panel to rule on this issue. We are convinced the EU will prevail in what is a clear case of tax discrimination but we still hope the Philippine Government would remedy the situation without waiting for the completion of WTO dispute settlement procedures”. European industry has raised concerns since the introduction of a new Excise Tax Regime in the Philippines in 1997.
Those concerns became more serious as discrimination against imported spirits aggravated with subsequent reforms of this regime, notably with the introduction of new legislation in 2004. This has had a significant impact on exports of EU spirits to the Philippine market. More specifically, it is estimated that, from 2004 to 2007, EU exports of spirits to the Philippines have more than halved (from around €37 million to €18 million).
(Source: Eurocare Newsletter December 09-January 10) Comment: WTO protects the industry instead of the people. Let’s hope the consumption went down.

The trade and human rights communities distrust each other, but “human rights and trade rules, including WTO rules, are based on the same values: individual freedom and responsibility, non-discrimination, rule of law, and welfare through peaceful cooperation among individuals,” Director-General Pascal Lamy told a colloquium on human rights in the global economy, in Geneva, on 13 January 2010. This is what he said:
“Towards Shared Responsibility and Greater Coherence: Human Rights, Trade and Macroeconomic Policy”
Colloquium on Human Rights in the Global Economy, Co-organized by the International Council on Human Rights and Realizing Rights. (Source: WTO NEWS: SPEECHES, 1/13/10)

The 2009 edition of the WTO’s International Trade Statistics, a comprehensive overview of world trade up to 2008, was published in electronic format on 28 October 2009 and will be available in print in November.
> > News item: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news09_e/stat_28oct09_e.htm

Die Rolle des multilateralen Handelssystems im Zusammenhang mit der gegenwärtigen Wirtschaftskrise wird am diesjährigen WTO Public Forum Hauptthema sein und Vertreter von Zivilgesellschaft, Wissenschaft, Regierungen und Medien werden ermutigt, sich zu engagieren und zu diskutieren, wie das System am besten globale Antworten auf die Krise geben kann. Während des dreitägigen Treffens, 28. – 30. September 2009, können die Teilnehmer unter 44 interaktiven Workshops auswählen, die das ganze Spektrum von handelsbezogenen Themen abdecken. WTO Pressemitteilung, 24.9.09

The role of the multilateral trading system in the context of the current economic crisis will be the central focus of this year’s WTO Public Forum and representatives of civil society, academia, governments and the media will be encouraged to engage and debate on how the system can best provide global answers to the crisis. During the course of the three day meeting, 28-30 September, participants can choose to attend 44 interactive workshops covering the full spectrum of trade related issues and concerns. WTO Pressrelease, 9/24/09

Under a late summer sun on Sunday, 6 September 2009, about 5,000 people came to learn more about the World Trade Organization, its work, staff, artistic treasures and its building that is more than 80 years old. “Our volunteers, our members and all WTO staff would like to thank everyone who visited us and made this day a great success. I hope to see you all again next year”, Director-General Pascal Lamy said. (Source: WTO, 9/6/09)

On Sunday 6 September the WTO will open its doors to the public for the first time. Throughout the day, there will be a variety of activities on offer, including guided tours of the building, insights into the work of the WTO and special activities for children. Director General Pascal Lamy summed up the aim of the day: This Open Day will be a chance to discover the WTO in all its facets, historical, cultural and international, as well as to understand the importance of international trade to the prosperity of all the world’s citizens.
(Source: Press release, 8/31/09)

Comprehensive information on customs duties became available to WTO website users on 9 July 2009 through a new database, the WTO Tariff Download Facility. Users can now search for members’ customs duty rates, as actually charged as well as legally bound maximums, and in many cases imports, down to a high level of detail.
> WTO Tariff Download Facility
> Brief explanation and user guide

The WTO Public Forum will take place 28 to 30 September 2009. Registration to attend the forum is now open and you can see the programme of the proposed sessions on the public forum website. Summaries of the sessions will be available soon.
> > Public forum home page:
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum09_e/public_forum09_e.htm
> > Public forum registration: https://meetings.wto.org/Forums/Registrant/SymposiumRegistration.aspx?Language=E
> > Public forum programme: http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/public_forum09_e/programme_e.doc

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Der General Council hat am 30.4.09 entschieden, Director-General Pascal Lamy für eine zweite Amtszeit von vier Jahren zu wählen, die am 1.9.09 beginnt. Die einstimmige Wahl folgte auf eine Präsentation von Mr. Lamy’s Vision für die WTO und eine Frage- und Antwort-Sitzung am Vortag. Pascal Lamy’s Präsentation am 29. April 2009 WTO, 29.4.09