WT/DS371/38  
 
2 July 2020 
(20-4587) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
THAILAND – CUSTOMS A ND FISCAL MEASURES O N CIGARETTES  
FROM THE PHILIPPINES   
COMMUNICATION FROM THE PHILIPPINES  
The following communication, dated 29 June 2020 , was received from the delegation of 
the Philippines  with the request that it be circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).  
 
_______________  
 
 
The Philippines sets forth below the content of its intervention at the DSB meeting held on 
29 June 2020 regarding Item 11 of the agenda, Thailand – Customs and Fiscal Measures on 
Cigarettes from the Philippines,  particularly the Philippines' Recourse to Article 22.2 of the DSU 
(WT/DS371/32).  
 
1. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the outset, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate you 
on your election as Chair of the Dispute Set tlement Body, and to express our appreciation for the 
resumption of the DSB and WTO physical meetings. As a user and a firm believer in the WTO dispute 
settlement system, the Philippines is confident that your principled leadership will contribute to its 
strengthening and improvement.  
 
2. The Philippines wishes to thank the DSB Chair for his report to the Members, as well as for 
providing us with an opportunity to continue our dialogue with Thailand in a constructive spirit 
through consultations. We also wi sh to commend his continuing efforts to help us resolve these 
important and urgent concerns that have systemic implications to the rights of Members, under the 
Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).  
 
3. At the last DSB meeting, and in our Chair -guided co nsultations, the Chair had suggested that 
both parties attempt to find a way forward. In this context and with reference to our previous 
statements (WT/DS371/35; WT/DS371/37), the Philippines is pleased to update the Members that 
on 09 March 2020, in a let ter addressed to the DSB Chair and Thailand, the Philippines proposed 
that the parties commence discussions to arrive at a constructive solution in order to complete the 
two (2) pending Article 21.5 appeals —including but not limited to proceedings under Ar ticle 25 of 
the DSU, Article 22.6 of the DSU, or other hybrid approaches acceptable to all parties, or through 
an agreed level of compensation. The Philippines maintains its good faith and openness to a time -
bound and Chair -guided solution to this situatio n and awaits any ideas or suggestions from the Chair 
and Thailand.   
 
4. I must emphasize, however, that while the Philippines is open to a constructive solution to the 
issue at hand, as shown by our 09 March letter, the Philippines maintains that it is fully within its 
rights to seek Recourse under Article 22.2 of the DSU.  
 
5. Mr. Chairman, the provisions of Article 22.6 of the DSU are clear:  
• "The DSB, upon request, shall  grant authorization to suspend concessions or 
other obligations within 30 days of  the expiry of the reasonable period of time 
unless the DSB decides by consensus to reject the request"; and  
• "If the Member concerned objects to the level of suspension proposed, […] the 
matter shall  be referred to arbitration".  
 WT/DS371/38  
 
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  6. Therefore, there are only two (2) options under the reverse -consensus rule of DSU 
Article  22.6: (1) the DSB granting authorization to suspend concessions, or (2) the DSB referring 
the matter to arbitration.  
 
7. The Philippines does not insist, at this meeting of the DSB, that the DSB through the Chair 
grant the authority we seek, given the good -faith consultations currently being conducted between 
the Chair and the parties. Our flexibility, however, is finite, and dependent on reaching a prompt 
and constructive way forward. At some point, if no solution is reached, we expect that the DSB 
should act in accordance with the Rules.  
 
8. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  
 
 
_______________  
 
 
  WT/DS371/38  
 
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  The Philippines provides the Dispute Settlement Body with a copy of its 09 March 2020 letter 
addressed to the DSB Chair and Thailand, proposing that the parties commence discussions to arrive 
at a constructive solution in order to complete the two (2) pend ing Article 21.5 appeals in DS371 —
including but not limited to proceedings under Article 25 of the DSU, Article 22.6 of the DSU, or 
other hybrid approaches acceptable to all parties, or through an agreed level of compensation.  
 
Without Prejudice  
 
Thailand – Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines  
(WT/DS371)  
 
Excellencies,  
 
Further to the resumed meeting of the DSB on 5 th March 2020, the Philippines remains 
committed to the rules -based dispute settlement system of the WTO and to work together to find a 
positive solution to the current procedural impasse. The Philippines stands ready to continue those 
efforts in a time -bound manner.  
 
As we are all aware, on 10 December 2019, the Appellate Body Division hearing Thailand's 
two com pliance appeals issued procedural rulings that indefinitely suspended work on the appeals. 
The Philippines believes that it is fully entitled to proceed to Article 22.2 remedies but respects and 
notes Thailand's concerns that its pending 21.5 appeals shoul d be first resolved.  
 
Recalling paragraph 12 of the Sequencing Understanding and noting Thailand's letter of 26 
February 2020 to the Chair citing the same provision, the Philippines therefore formally expresses 
its request and willingness to find a solutio n under paragraph 12 of the sequencing understanding, 
under the leadership and guidance of the DSB Chair.  
 
In this spirit of cooperation, the Philippines proposes that the parties commence discussions 
to arrive at a constructive solution in order to comple te the pending Article 21.5 appeals, including 
but not limited to proceedings under Article 25 of the DSU, Article 22.6 of the DSU or other hybrid 
approaches acceptable to all parties, or through an agreed level of compensation.  
 
We sincerely hope for a su ccessful and prompt conclusion to the discussions ahead of the 
next DSB meeting, pursuant to our respective commitments to find a prompt solution to procedural 
issues not addressed in the sequencing understanding.  
 
 
__________