Stories written by Isolda Agazzi
Isolda Agazzi is a journalist with IPS, covering the United Nations, the WTO and international affairs. She lives in Geneva, where she also writes for Swiss and other international media in English, French and Italian. She holds a master’s degree in international relations and for more than 15 years has worked in international cooperation for donor agencies and NGOs, mainly in Switzerland and North Africa. She has taught in several universities, in Italy and elsewhere.

Babacar Ndao: "The Doha Round wil strengthen multinational corporations further." Credit: IPS

Q&A: “One Can’t Work 18 Hours a Day and Still be Poor”

By Isolda Agazzi
Given the billions of dollars and euros that the U.S. and EU spend on trade-distorting support measures and the intractable lobby groups demanding these subsidies, these rich states’ promises to reduce such amounts will come to nought. It makes no sense for poor African states to allow these goods to flood their markets.

TRADE: Govt’s May Need to Do for Workers What They Did for Banks

By Isolda Agazzi
The finding by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that the dropping of trade tariffs leads to jobs being lost in the formal sector while informal jobs grow is another confirmation of the adverse consequences of forced trade liberalisation.

TRADE: NGOs Welcome EU Vow Not to Push Africa into EPAs

By Isolda Agazzi
Non-governmental organisations have expressed their satisfaction at the European Commission’s declaration that it would not put "undue pressure" on African and other countries to conclude the controversial trade deals called economic partnership agreements (EPAs).

MALI: Technology Transfer So Slow "We’ll Have to Copy Like China"

By Isolda Agazzi
Cars and motorcycles are stuck because of the heavy rains that have drenched Mali’s capital for the past few days. It is late afternoon and the water, mud and damaged fruit from nearby stalls make the journey for those heading home to celebrate Ramadan even more treacherous.

WORLD: "Mini-Ministerial Meeting Should Change WTO Tack on Food"

By Isolda Agazzi
A group of 125 non-governmental organisations from 50 countries is calling on the governments participating in the mini-ministerial trade talks in India over the next two days to reject the further liberalisation of food and rather promote policies that will achieve food security and rural development and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.

AFRICA: UNCTAD Recommends Privatisation to Mali

By Isolda Agazzi
How can an African country define its own policy without getting lost in dozens of treaties and international commitments and the jungle of studies prepared by foreign donors and so-called experts, compounded by policy interference by international financial institutions and governments in the North?

ECONOMY-AFRICA: The State Is Back, Announces UNCTAD

By Isolda Agazzi
The state is back; neo-liberal policies have failed; and the liberalisation of trade should be halted. These are some of the findings and recommendations from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for the poorest countries, most of which are in Africa.

WORLD: Trade Cannot Be Relied Upon to Reduce Poverty

By Isolda Agazzi
Trade is positively linked to economic growth but trade policies alone cannot be relied upon to meet a country’s poverty reduction objectives, admits a review of aid for trade that was compiled for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

TRADE: Who’s Harming Fish Stocks? Trawlers or Artisanal Fishers?

By Isolda Agazzi
Red tunas, sharks, rays and cods may soon disappear from our tables. Negotiations are ongoing at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to reduce the subsidies that contribute to this catastrophe. These talks foresee exceptions for developing countries, but small fishers may have to turn to other sources of livelihood.
« Previous Page


tomorrow and tomorrow epub