TRn and American
business chiefs were confronted by
protesters outside the opening of the
Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD)
ANSATLANTIC BUSINESS PLAN FACES
OPPOSITION
Europea
annual conference in Berlin in late
October. An international coalition of
campaigners, including FoE Europe,
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO), A SEED
Europe, and several German citizens' groups
rejected the TABD's efforts to expand
European markets for genetically modified
(GM) food. In a colourful demonstration,
campaigners dressed as Frankenstein and
touting a 3-metre tall corn cob told the
delegates: "Hands off our genes!" and "No
to Frankenstein foods!"
The coalition is opposing plans within
the TABD to harmonize trade regulations and
standards between Europe and the US. This
would spell disaster for public health and
environmental legislation on both sides of
the Atlantic, as laws would be pulled down
to the lowest existing common denominator.
The more stringent European regulations on
genetically modified food, which were
brought about by widespread mass public
opposition to gene technology, could be
stripped away, allowing many more GM
products to flood into the European
market.
"The TABD has no right to impose
genetically modified food on the people of
Europe," said FoE Europe's Alexandra
Wandel. "The interests of big business
should not be allowed to dictate government
policy."
The TABD was initiated by the European
Commission and the US administration and
allows business leaders privileged access
to government institutions and high-level
trade officials on both sides of the
Atlantic. The organization plays an
extremely influential role in moulding EU
and US trade policy despite its complete
lack of a democratic mandate.
During the October meeting, CEOs from
over 120 of the world's largest
transnational corporations met with global
trade leaders including Director-General of
the World Trade Organization (WTO) Michael
Moore. The TABD's recommendations for the
Third Ministerial Conference of the WTO in
Seattle at the end of November were also
high on the agenda. The EU, with the
support of business, wants a new round of
trade liberalization talks to be kicked
off, but has met with strong opposition
from civil society.
Press release of the anti-TABD
coalition, 29 October 1999.
