‘PH at risk of losing billions in trade if death penalty revived’

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Saturday, March 11, 2017

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MANILA – The Philippines could possibly lose billions of dollars in trade deals with the European Union should judicial concerns in the country persist, heads of both parties revealed on Friday.

“We are concerned about some of the issues here in the Philippines: the reinstatement of the death penalty, also the extrajudicial killings and the proposal to lower the judicial responsibility age to 9 years – and this is also some of the concerns that we have conveyed to our partners here in the Philippines,” European trade commissioner Cecilia Malstrom told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference in Pasay City.

Should these issues continue, these could affect the review of the current trade agreement of the Philippines with the European Union called the Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+).

“We have, right now, an agreement between us called GSP+ which opens up good trade possibilities, but it is also subject to certain measures … We’re discussing this with our partners,” Malstrom said.

The GSP+ agreement grants the Philippines zero duties on some 6,274 locally-made products.

However, the agreement – currently under review – requires the Philippine ratification of 27 international conventions which cater to human and labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance, among others.

Last year, the EU parliament issued a resolution urging Philippine authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the rising death toll in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

That drew a rebuke from Duterte, who cursed out the EU for allegedly meddling in Philippine affairs.

Death penalty bill

On Tuesday, the House of Represenatives approved on its third and final reading the bill to reinstate the death penalty.

To become law, the measure still needs to be enacted in the Senate, where it is expected to encounter tougher opposition.

Opponents of the bill have warned that re-imposing capital punishment would violate the country’s international treaty obligations and might result in the country being an international pariah.

Duterte has pushed for the return of death penalty, saying it is a critical part of his administration’s drug war.

Trade appeal

Meanwhile, Trade secretary Ramon M. Lopez said the Philippines could still appeal before the EU if the GSP+ agreement is scrapped.

“We will appeal for whatever. Let’s say, may tatanggalin silang GSP+, siyempre we will appeal for retention,” the Cabinet official told reporters.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed export receipts from EU buyers totaled $5.69 billion in the first 10 months of 2016. (GMA News)

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