煙草在線據商務世界在線報道編譯　　10月10日，菲律賓一名貿易官員告訴記者說，菲律賓政府在等待10月15日關于煙稅問題的最后期限之際，愿意給予泰國處理問題的靈活性。

　　不過，菲律賓貿易部副部長Adrian S. Cristobal說，如果泰國頒行給進口卷煙提供更公平的征稅制度立法的話，才會給予這種靈活性。

　　Adrian S. Cristobal在10月10日于馬尼拉舉行的第三十八屆菲律賓貿易大會的會場外接受記者采訪時說：“我們對取決于泰國報告的各種選擇持開放態度。我們尤其愿意接受靈活處理，因為我們從自己的立法程序知道，這需要時間。”他還補充說：“還有另外一個需要遵循的程序，例如像仲裁程序。”

　　10月15日后，菲律賓可能選擇尋求世界貿易組織的仲裁，或繼續與泰國舉行雙邊會談。

　　泰國應該順應幾項稅務改革，這幾項改革與世界貿易組織在5月15日做出的泰國不公平地對待從菲律賓進口的卷煙的裁決有關。

　　菲律賓與泰國之間的爭議源自菲律賓政府代表菲莫菲律賓公司在2006年提起的訴訟。訴訟稱，泰國政府歧視進口品牌卷煙。

　　在9月18日的最新情況報告中，泰國說它能夠發出各種有關海關復議的決議。泰國在自己的情況報告中說：“自上一個情況報告后，泰國海關決定申訴委員會已經發布了菲律賓提出的設立評估小組的申請中列出的具體商品條目的海關估值的申訴案的決定。”

　　泰國還在報告中說：“申訴委員會將繼續考慮菲律賓的申訴中涉及的商品條目的申訴問題。”

Phillipines: Gov't Open to Give Thailand Leeway in Cigarette Tax Case

　　THE PHILIPPINE government is willing to provide flexibility to Thailand as it awaits the Oct. 15 deadline on the cigarette tax issue, a Trade official told reporters yesterday.

　　However, Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal said this leeway will only be granted if Thailand only needs to enact legislation that would provide a fairer tax scheme to imported cigarettes.

　　"We are open to options depending on the report of Thailand. We are open to be flexible especially as we know from our own legislative process that it takes time," said Mr. Cristobal in an interview with reporters at the sidelines of the 38th Philippine Business Conference in Manila yesterday. He added: "There is still another process to follow like the arbitration process."

　　After Oct. 15, the Philippines may opt to seek arbitration from the World Trade Organization (WTO) or to continue bilateral talks with Thailand.

　　Thailand was supposed to comply with several taxation reforms in relation to the ruling of the WTO that the country was unfairly treating imported cigarettes from the Philippines on May 15.

　　The dispute stemmed from a 2006 complaint filed by the Philippine government on behalf of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc. claiming a bias against imported cigarette brands by the Thai government.

　　In its latest status report dated Sept. 18, Thailand said it has been able to issue various decisions regarding customs reviews. "Since the last status report, Thailand's Board of Appeals for customs determinations has issued its decision in the appeal of the customs valuation of the specific entries of merchandise listed in the Philippines' request for the establishment of a panel," Thailand said in its status report.

　　"The Board of Appeals is continuing its consideration of the appeal of the entries involved in the Philippines' claim," it added. Enditem