THAILAND has stonewalled attempts to resolve its dispute with the Philippines over a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on cigarette shipments, continuing the friction between the two countries.

“Thailand blocked the adoption of the agenda of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) at its meeting today (Feb. 28, 2020) to prevent the DSB from granting the Philippines the right to retaliate against Thailand in a 12-year old dispute, which the Philippines won,” the Philippine mission to the WTO said in a statement.