WTO IN SEATTLE:
A Blow to Global Governance
The attempt by industrialized countries
to progress further in the direction of a
single global economy was unexpectedly
thwarted at the end of 1999. Credit for the
collapse of the WTO Ministerial should go
to everyone who worked to break the camel's
back, whether or not they were present in
Seattle. Nonetheless, activists should
beware of letting the seeds of complacency
take root in their minds, as the WTO has
not yet been rendered harmless.
The Seattle demonstrators were a
thoroughly mixed batch - environmentalists
marched beside steelworkers, chicken
farmers, vegetarians and animal lovers. An
airplane trailing a banner proclaiming:
People Over Profits: Stop the WTO! ignited
the anti-WTO atmosphere outside the
conference centre and boosted the courage
of the demonstrators. But the reasons for
the collapse of the Millennium Round extend
beyond the demonstrations on the streets of
Seattle. Member states argued over various
issues including genetically-engineered
foods, agriculture, textiles, labour and
cultural issues.
In general, little was heard from
southern countries in Seattle. The radical
position of the Malaysian government is
worth noting, as are the media campaigns
waged by FoEI and the Third World Network.
The Organization of African Unity's refusal
to embrace the Ministerial Declaration was
impressive. Yet overall the southern
presence was not evident, and the majority
of southern activists in Seattle remained
silent and marginalized.
Looking back on what happened in
Seattle, it is clear that the WTO will
never be the same. Its agenda and its
processes will have to change dramatically.
But is such fundamental change possible? In
a press conference immediately following
the collapse of the talks, the EU and the
US vaguely stated that the next round of
trade negotiations should "address the
concerns" of developing countries. Before
proceeding with their evasive promises
however, these countries should reflect
seriously on the forces that were
responsible for the debacle in Seattle.
Chowdhury M.F., FoE
Bangladesh
