| Cancun Will Not be
a Party for the Free Traders
By Marwaan Macan-Markar
Cancun, that resort city on Mexico’s Caribbean coast,
has been put on notice: expect rough times in September, when
the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) ministerial meeting kicks
off.
That is what critics of the WTO are promising as what they
see as the free trade beast threatens to evolve from its already
intimidating presence into a behemoth.
And the WSF has provided the perfect setting for these critics
from NGOs to win more converts to their cause -- bringing
the WTO into check.
They announced what is lined-up as part of their Our World
Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) campaign Sunday. Protests and demonstrations
are in the cards. In addition, governments will be singled
out for a heavy bout of lobbying.
This network, which has over 40 NGOs from across the world
in its group, has honed in on issues to tackle: the danger
of expanding the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade and
Services (GATS) regime and the ample signs that democracy
is being sidelined in the decision-making process.
The agriculture sector in the developing world will suffer
if the WTO gets its way, said Yash Tandon, director of Southern
and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute
(SEATINI). “Food security will be undermined.”
“We have to get the WTO out of agriculture,”
added Poguri Chennaiah of the Indian National Agricultural
Workers Forum. “Farmers are losing their rights over
land.”
In all, OWINFS has a list of 11 demands for transforming
the WTO to ensure a fair and sustainable system for global
trade. “Fundamental human rights and workers’
rights must be respected,” states OWINFS.
Multinational companies should also take note, since the
activism agenda with the Cancun meeting in its sights has
these economic giants in mind. The NGOs are determined to
stall the unprecedented freedom multinational companies would
be given with respect to trade in the developing world.
“Governments will have no say over these companies,”
said one speaker. If there is no oversight, the multinationals
would be able to come in and set up operations without any
accountability.”
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