PH Gov't looking to bring back excise tax for pick-ups

[ice15]

Philippines' retaliation in Thai tobacco tiff stalled by frozen WTO | Nikkei Asian Review

MANILA -- The Philippines is prodding the World Trade Organization to let it retaliate against Thailand over a decadelong tobacco customs dispute, as simmering trade tensions between the two nations start to boil over.

Citing an appeal lodged at the WTO's currently nonfunctional Appellate Body, Bangkok blocked Manila's bid to put retaliation on the agenda of the WTO Dispute Settlement Board for its Feb. 28 meeting in Geneva.

The Philippines hit out at Thailand's "tactics" on Monday while expressing confidence that the trade body will uphold Manila's rights when the meeting resumes on March 5.

"It is time to say that enough is enough," Philippine Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said in a statement on Monday. Asked by the Nikkei Asian Review if Manila would retaliate sans WTO approval, Rodolfo said: "We do not want to preempt what the WTO will or will not do."

According to United Nation's trade statistics, the Philippines is Thailand's second-largest tobacco supplier.

In 2008, the Philippines filed a WTO complaint against Thailand's customs valuations, which Manila claims discriminate against tobacco imports to protect Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, a state-run company.

Manila won the case in 2010 and subsequent appeals, including one last year.

Thailand then went to the Appellate Body -- WTO's de facto supreme court -- which has been paralyzed since December after the U.S. blocked new appointments to replace retiring judges. The seven-member body, which needs at least three members to convene, has been reduced to one.

"We cannot let the impasse in the WTO impair our substantive rights," Rodolfo said. "Hence, we have sought authorization to already retaliate."

The increasingly strained trade relations between the Southeast Asian neighbors comes as the Philippines is considering the imposition of safeguard duties on imported cars to protect its local auto industry.

One such duty will hit Thailand, a big car exporter to the Philippines. The duty is separate from the planned retaliation, which will also likely center on car imports, a Philippine trade official told Nikkei.

[ice15]

Heads up: DOF proposes to remove excise tax exemption for pick-ups | Autoindustriya

There are no exact details yet regarding the said proposal. What we do know is, should the excise tax exemption be removed, it could significantly increase the prices of pick-up trucks in the country – affecting the auto industry sales as a whole.

Also included in the proposal is the imposing of excise tax on motorcycles, as well as reforming the Motor Vehicle User's Charge (MVUC). Should all of these proposals come into effect, we could see more rising costs of buying pick-ups, motorcycles, and the annual payment of the MVUC.

[uls]

Heads up: DOF proposes to remove excise tax exemption for pick-ups | Autoindustriya

it could significantly increase the prices of pick-up trucks in the country – affecting the auto industry sales as a whole.

but it will boost pickup sales before the tax kicks in

[ice15]

but it will boost pickup sales before the tax kicks in

yup... looks like the Hilux will be the #1 selling car this year.

[dr. d]

Heads up: DOF proposes to remove excise tax exemption for pick-ups | Autoindustriya

i wonder,
how many bought a pick-up for its utility, and how many purchased one as daily / family use?

[uls]

i think most people who bought pickups in recent years bumili dahil uso

pang personal/family use not business

[ice15]

IMO. dapat may panel and DOF that will decide if a specific vehicle is exempted sa excise tax.

Single Cab Pickup - yes
Avanza Cargo - yes
Raptor - no

Mio/Click etc - yes
NMAX/Vespa - no

ang nangyayari kasi, in general yung ginawa nilang criteria and madaming nakakakita ng butas.

remember nung 10 seater daw yung CR-V?

[thearsenal1205]

yup... looks like the Hilux will be the #1 selling car this year.

Not just Hilux. Might be the upcoming all new Ranger.

Sent from my SM-N970F using Tsikot Forums mobile app

[ice15]

PH pickup prices may rise as House approves removal of excise tax exemption | TopGear PH

The House committee on ways and means has approved the proposed removal of the excise tax exemption for pickups following a hearing held earlier today.

[dr. d]

i wonder,
how many pick-buyers actually use it as their beast of burden?