Many of this blog's readers are probably familiar with the old GATT Thailand - Cigarettes dispute. It looks like we might be headed for a (somewhat) similar dispute at the WTO. From an article published just in advance of the WTO complaint:
The Philippine government plans to elevate the trade complaint of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI) with Thailand to the World Trade Organization (WTO) after talks with Asean trade officials in Baguio this week.
Trade and Industry Undersecretary Thomas Aquino said the Philippine government is bent on supporting the trade issue of Philip Morris over a policy in Thailand that would increase the tariff on imported cigarettes.
And here's the complaint. There are a lot of claims in there, but this one struck me as being an interesting one:
25. Thailand requires that tobacco and/or cigarette retailers hold separate licenses to sell domestic and imported cigarettes, respectively. The Philippines understands that the measure in which these discriminatory requirements are contained include the Excise Department Announcement by the Director-General of Excise, dated 12 September 1991, issued pursuant to Article 4, Ministerial Regulation No. 17 B.E. 2534 (1991) under the Tobacco Act B.E. 2509 (1966) , and any amendments, implementing measures or other related measures.
26. The Philippines considers that this dual license requirement, based purely on the origin of the products sold, is inconsistent with Article III:4 of the GATT 1994, because it provides less favourable treatment for imported products than for like domestic products.
This reminds me of the Korea - Beef dual retail requirment claim. I'm curious to see the arguments as to how this dual licensing requirement leads to less favorable treatment.
