[DEBATE] : Despotic Global Governance? Aid Groups Call on WTO to Cancel Meeting

[Riaz K Tayob]

Aid Groups Call on WTO to Cancel Meeting


By SAM CAGE Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

GENEVA - Aid and campaign groups from around the world on Tuesday called 
on WTO chief Pascal Lamy to cancel a major trade meeting scheduled for 
the end of this month, saying many poor countries are being excluded 
from talks.

In a letter to Lamy, 125 organizations _ including Oxfam, ActionAid and 
Third World Network _ said the World Trade Organization was trying to 
force agreement on trade liberalization against opposition from a 
majority of its 149 members.

"These are the same countries which now face a Doha Round conclusion 
that, if implemented, would harm the majority of their populations," the 
letter said. "The manner in which the negotiations process has been 
dominated by the interests of the rich and powerful countries which have 
forced development issues off the agenda."

The Doha round _ named for the Qatari capital where it was launched in 
2001 _ aims to boost the global economy and lift millions worldwide out 
of poverty by lowering trade barriers across all sectors, with 
particular emphasis on developing countries.

But the round is already two years behind schedule and negotiators have 
been at an impasse for months, with developing countries demanding that 
rich nations do more to open up their farm markets. The upcoming meeting 
in Geneva is aimed at agreeing precise formulas for cutting tariffs and 
subsidies on industrial and farm goods to set up a conclusion to the 
round by the end of the year.

The letter called on Lamy to stick to WTO rules guaranteeing that any 
decision is reached by consensus, saying the commerce body's secretariat 
had instigated a series of meetings during the late April gathering in 
Geneva which only include ministers from a select number of member states.