1.

What are the trade disputes filed by the Philippines with the WTO? Cite one case with
case number and title and write a summary.

DS195: Philippines — Measures Affecting Trade and Investment in the Motor Vehicle

Sector

Complainant: United States

Respondent: Philippines
Third parties: India and Japan

On May 23, 2000, the United States asked for a consultation with regards to certain
measures in the Philippines’ Motor Vehicle Development Program (“MVDP”). This request
includes Car Development Program, the Commercial Vehicle Development Program, and the
Motorcycle Development Program. The United States argued that the MVDP provided that
motor vehicle manufacturers located in the Philippines who meet certain requirements are
entitled to import parts, components and finished vehicles at a preferential tariff rate. Among the
requirements alluded to by the United States are that manufacturers should utilize parts and
components produced in the Philippines and that they earn a percentage of the foreign
exchange needed to import those parts by exporting finished vehicles. The United States
additionally attests that foreign manufacturers’ import licenses for components, parts, and
finished vehicles are conditioned on compliance with these requirements. On October 12, 2000,
the United States requested the establishment of a panel. Further to a second request to
establish a panel by the US, the DSB established a panel at its meeting and India and Japan
reserved their third party rights. But this panel has not yet been composed. Philippines believes
that the establishment of a panel on this matter violates WTO decision-making processes and
therefore must be rejected. The Philippines believes that the requirements of Article 5.3 of the
TRIMs Agreement must be addressed before the matter can be considered by the DSB. Thus,
establishment of a panel under these circumstances would nullify the rights of the Philippines
and developing country members as provided in TRIMs. The Philippines has engaged in
negotiations with the United States in good faith. The Philippines is committed to establishing a
liberal trade and investment regime for the automotive industry and has manifested its flexibility.

2. IMF Annual Report 2020 summary

The Dean of the Executive Board at the International Monetary Fund, Aleksei Mozhin
was the one who outlined IMF’s 2020 Annual Report. He started the report by saying that 2020
was a year filled with loss and uncertainty but at the same time filled with resilience and
recovery because of the global pandemic. People have faced several challenges throughout the
year as the global economic activities plummeted. Many businesses died and people have been
jobless. As the world faced crisis and lockdowns, IMF provided policy advice, lending, and
capacity development to their 190 member countries. They gave aids and tried their best to
secure their members. IMF responded to the pandemic in an extraordinary manner as they
dedicated more than 100 billion dollars for aid, providing their low income members with about
10 times debt relief and concessional lending than in a normal year. The annual report also
reflects IMF’s collaboration among their member countries. It has been said that IMF utilized
agility and creativity within the institution itself and demonstrates an unwavering commitment
toward multi-lateral cooperation. The report also highlights IMF’s work on governance, control of
corruption, social spending, digital money, debt sustainability and of course climate change. As
the world is in an unstable situation, IMF continues to take risks with substantial space for their
1 trillion dollar lending capacity. They assured to help even more and will continue to work with
their member countries in good faith. IMF ensures to share their goals with other countries in
order to foster a good economic status for everyone and recover from the damage the
pandemic has done.