Tobacco.org

• Stop ‘Fronting’ for Tobacco Companies, Government Urged  

An anti-tobacco group today asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and urged the Philippine government to stop "fronting for the selfish business interests of big-time multi-national tobacco corporations."

Dr. Maricar Limpin, Executive Director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance- Philippines (FCAP), issued the call as she criticized the move of DTI to file a case against Thailand before the World Trade Organization (WTO) for allegedly imposing high tariffs on Philip Morris products produced in the Philippines.

After failing to resolve the trade row through diplomatic channels, the Philippine government, through DTI Undersecretary Thomas Aquino has filed a case versus Thailand, accusing Bangkok of discriminating against Manila's cigarette exports to protect a state-owned tobacco monopoly.

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