CAN "SUPERTHAI" MAKE ASIANS WIN WTO-TUNA BATTLE ?

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CAN "SUPERTHAI" MAKE ASIANS WIN WTO-TUNA BATTLE ?
(By Henk Brus, September 13, 2002)

Now that talks between the EU, Thailand and Philippines about a reduced duty tariff on tuna have failed to produce any positive result, everybody wonders what will come next. Thailand and Philippines are pushing for a total elimination of the 24% duty tariff that the Europeans are now using to protect their own tuna canning industry. They feel extremely discriminated compared to the 0% tariff for the African and Andean canneries. The EU and the Asian tuna exporting nations agreed that, if they would not succeed, they would put the issue in front of the arbitration of the WTO (World Trade Organization). Based on the ruling of the WTO arbitration commission, which will be non-binding, the EU could then once again re-consider its firm stand. So the WTO could get a prominent role in the tuna dispute, which is of such importance to the future of the Asian tuna canning nations.

When the WTO would really get involved, Thailand might have a significant advantage. They've got SuperThai ! "SuperThai" = "Supachai" Panitchpackchi, the 56 year old economist who became the biggest boss at the WTO from September 1st, 2002. This new WTO Director-General has the reputation of being a very determined supporter of the less-developed nations. Many times he has said that he is committed not to disappoint the developing countries. The Americans expect that Supachai will give special advantages to the third world trade.

After having served for 5 years as Thai Vice-President and Minister of Trade during the Asian tiger-crisis, SuperThai is familiar with the problems of the Thai canned tuna industry. Already during his term in the Thai government this case was pending with the WTO, however without any results. Now that SuperThai is saying in recent interviews : " less developed nations have much catching-up to do, and I will help them in the process", he is also creating high expectations with his countrymen towards tackling this problem.

Regarding fisheries, SuperThai has also made some clear statements, which could have an effect on the tuna dispute between the EU, Thailand and Philippines. He communicated on fisheries : "Take the over-exploitation of fish resources, which eventually destroys all sea-life, and who are the ones most guilty of this ? If they really want sustainable management of fish-resources, these nations have to go all the way and take their responsibility".

It looks like especially Philippines is starting to put a lot of political pressure on the issue, and they seem to be in the best position to do so. Their dependency on the export of canned tuna, as part of their total exports, is much larger than that of Thailand, which has many other products. As a tuna-fishing nation, with plenty of problems with "Muslim terrorism" the Philippines might hold a better card. Thailand does not have a fishing industry, and they are actually the greatest fear of the European tuna canners. But after calling in the help of SuperThai, there might just be a chance that in the coming years the WTO will mount the pressure on the EU to eliminate canned tuna duties altogether.

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