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TRADING AWAY HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

Free Trade Area of the Americas Launched

In April, 34 heads of state and trade ministers from every nation in the western hemisphere except Cuba discussed a proposal under development by the United States since 1994. The proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), which will be open for signature in 2005, combines aspects of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), elements of some of the WTO commitments, and parts of the failed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI). The FTAA will effectively handcuff governments' capacity to make policy in the public interest, and will enhance corporate power at the expense of the rights of citizens throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

Most people in the affected regions have never heard of the FTAA, although this agreement will certainly impact all of our lives. Negotiations have been conducted in strict secrecy, with industry groupings acting as advisors to the negotiators. Many national parliamentarians were either unaware that the negotiations were going on, or have been denied access to information. While trade unions and NGOs have attempted to voice their opinions to negotiators from various countries, there is no evidence to date that their concerns have been heard.

Demonstrating for Rights
Many people from around the world made their way to Quebec, Canada in April to be part of the demonstrations calling for governments to “stop trading away the rights of our people and the environment.” Fearing a repeat of protests on the magnitude of Seattle, the Canadian government spent some US$30 million to build a security fence and keep protestors far away from the two-day meeting. For purposes of comparison, when Central America was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch, Canada offered a mere US$4.5 million to Nicaragua with $1.4 million of that conditioned to the repayment of the country's debt.

The meeting was a great success in the eyes of the governments. While the official declaration was being signed, tear gas was used to silence the voices of the thousands of protestors outside. With such violations of human rights already taking place during the signing of the document, what lies in store when the agreement goes into effect in 2005? The FTAA will certainly reinforce the negative impacts of World Bank and IMF imposed policies in our countries – policies that have already led to severe lack of access to health care, schools, and jobs for people throughout the region. The doors will be opened even wider to TNCs, and water privatization will be among the worst outcomes as this is a resource that poor people still get for free in many countries.

Trade Above All
This FTAA contradicts many other international agreements that have been ratified by our countries. Social rights and basic needs such as food, water, health and safety will be constrained by trade rules. Governments will no longer be able to ensure food as a basic human right by establishing or maintaining policies that safeguard peasants, small farmers, rural economies and food sovereignty if these policies act as "barriers" to trade. Transnational corporations will be able to sue any national government that attempts to prevent the import of genetically modified seeds, or the exploitation of old growth forests, or the aggressive marketing of tobacco to protect its citizens and the environment.

The promotion of a so-called "development" under the control of TNCs will hinder the emergence of policy tools that promote equitable and sustainable development, such as the restriction of foreign capital in certain sectors, the reinvestment of profits, or limitations on the purchase of farm land and other real estate. More people will be excluded from the development process as well, including women, disabled and indigenous peoples and other minorities.

People from all of the Americas who are monitoring these negotiations need to continue to resist the implementation of the FTAA. The concept of human rights is meant to allow us to increase levels of social and economic welfare, and not to expand the free trade that is destroying people's lives and the environment.

Magda Lanuza, FoE Nicaragua