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4 december 2001
another one bites the dust: oecd
negotiations break down again
Reaction in Geneva to the publication of
the WTO's final draft declaration [1], to be
negotiated at the 4th Ministerial in Doha,
Qatar, 9-13 December, was muted yesterday -
but only because developing country
ambassadors and civil society groups were so
shocked by its contents [2].
The supposedly neutral publication,
drafted by Stuart Harbinson of Hong Kong,
Chair of the WTO's General Council,
effectively initiates negotiations on all the
new issues - including competition,
investment, government procurement and trade
facilitation - opposed by many developing
countries and civil society groups since
before the last Seattle Ministerial.
Combined with extremely weak language on
all other developing country concerns
(including agriculture, implementation, debt
and technology transfer), nothing new on the
environment and sustainability and the
controversial reintroduction of the notorious
green room procedures (used to exclude many
delegates from negotiations) and the scene is
undoubtedly set for Seattle Mark II.
Alexandra Wandel of Friends of the Earth
Europe said:
"Under pressure from the EU and the US,
Harbinson has produced a 'clean text'
intended to give an impression of consensus
and simplicity. Nothing could be further
from the truth. This text offers nothing on
development, nothing on equity and nothing
on the environment or sustainability.
Anyone wondering about the real motives of
the EU and the US would be well advised to
watch developments in Doha: in the WTO it's
still business-as-usual."
[1] This and other key WTO documents for
the 4th Ministerial, published on or before
27 October 2001, can be found at www.foei.org
or
www.ictsd.org/ministerial/doha/relevantdoc.htm
[2] See Friends of the Earth International
Statement on the WTO 4th Ministerial Revised
Draft Conference Declaration, below, which
critiques the declaration's position on
implementation and development, agriculture,
services and the environment.
Contact:
Alexandra Wandel, tel:+32-2-542 01 85
(Brussels) or +49-172-748 39 53 (mobile)
Ronnie Hall, tel: +44-1243-6027 56
(London)
Vicente Yu, tel: +41 22 789-0742
(Geneva)
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