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Philippines : EU for review of declining export trends under GSP scheme |
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2004-8-10
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A review of Philippine exports that enjoy zero tariff under Europe''s Generalized Scheme of Tariff Preferences GSP) is being sought by The European Commission (EC).
Over the last two years, declining trend of Philippine exports to European countries has resulted in calling for the review.
"We want to find out why it (Europe) seems unattractive to local exporters and why the utilization rate (of the GSP) is low," said Ambassador Jan de Kok, head of the EC delegation to the Philippines, in a briefing last week.
The EU ambassador said he wanted to discuss with President Macapagal-Arroyo measures that would allow the country to maximize the benefits of Europe''s GSP scheme.
In a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo Jr., De Kok said that of the $1.7 billion in potential exports of the Philippines to the 25-nation European bloc under the GSP scheme, the Philippines shipped only $756 million worth of goods in 2003.
The amount was even lower by 19 percent from the $923 million worth of Philippine goods shipped to Europe in 2002.
De Kok said that while the country''s utilization rate of the GSP scheme increased from 36 percent in 2001 to 43 percent in 2002, it remained below average.
Under the GSP mechanism, Philippine products are entitled to reduced duties or preferential tariff rates. The Philippines was the 16th largest country-user of the EU GSP scheme in 2002.
Among the Philippine exports that are entitled to preferential tariff rates are farm, fishery and food products, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, textiles and machinery.
Europe''s GSP scheme was implemented three years ago and will be reviewed in 2006. In December 2003, the EC issued an order extending the GSP scheme until Dec. 31, 2005. |
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