No reason to be duly concerned about EU Parliament call to revoke tariff exemption —Baja

The Philippines should not be duly concerned about the European Union Parliament's call for the revocation of the country's exports tariff exemption, former Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja said on Sunday. 

“We take notice, we pay attention but no reason to be duly concerned. 'Yang EU Parliament is a deliberative body. What they issue is a declaratory resolution, which we are entitled to do,” he said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Instead, the country should monitor the response of the European Commission to the EU Parliament's call, Baja said.

“Ang ating bantayan ay kung ano ang gagawin ng European Commission. ‘Yan ang executive arm ng EU,” he added.

In a resolution dated September 17, the EU Parliament called on the EU Commission to temporarily withdraw the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) of the Philippines citing human rights violations.

Under the GSP+,  a mechanism that gives developing countries the privilege of exporting zero-duty merchandise to EU-member states, some of Philippine exports to Europe are benefitting from tariff breaks.

The Philippines can settle the issue through dialogues with the EU, according to Baja.

For Baja, the move of the Parliament is clearly an intervention to the domestic affairs of the Philippines. He noted that the principle of sovereignty shall prevail over the feelings, resolution, or statement of a regional organization.

“Hindi napapanahon ang banta ng EU dahil sa nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya,” he added.

On Friday, Malacañang dared the EU Parliament to make good on their threat to revoke the tariff-free status of some Philippine exports.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the country could not do anything should the European Commission heed the call of the European Parliament to slap economic sanctions on the Philippines.

“Kung gusto nila dagdagan ang pahirap ng sambayanang Pilipino sa panahon ng pandemya, so be it. We will accept that as history repeating itself,” Roque said.

“Gawin nila ang gusto nilang gawin. Sa mga panahong ito, if they want to implement it, go ahead. They will be the biggest contributor to the violation of right to life of the Filipinos,” he added.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez shrugged off the resolution of the European Parliament.

Lopez said that the government was so far “able to explain objectively the Philippines side on issues that are raised and we don't see any reason why our GSP+ privilege will be withdrawn.”

“It is precisely helping address poverty and attendant social and economic issues, and helping MSMEs in many parts of the country, by allowing greater EU market access for Philippine products,” he said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News