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July Talks Collapse a Win for Movement

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The collapse of the WTO talks should be seen clearly for what it is: A major win for the movement against neo-liberal economic policy. All around the globe people responded to these talks by pressuring their governments not to sign up to a bad deal.

Behind the spin on collapse of World Trade Organisation Doha Round - July 29 2008

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The collapse of the WTO talks this week has been portrayed by the WTO, industrialised country governments and the media as a setback for the global economy, and as most damaging to developing countries. They were meant to benefit from the so-called Doha Development Round of negotiations to expand free trade. The spin also blames developing countries for the collapse.

Behind the July Failure of the WTO Talks on Doha - Martin Khor

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A gross imbalance in the World Trade Organisation proposals in agriculture and industry explains why the latest attempt in July to achieve a breakthrough in the Doha round collapsed. The US demand that developing countries institute a stringent special safeguard mechanism in agriculture that would make it different for developing countries to protect themselves against import surges was not the only obstacle. There was the US farm subsidy issue, the cotton issue, the industry tariff proposal issue and more, on none of which a majority of the developing countries were ready to accept the US/EU position.

What next for the Doha round, which was launched way back in 2001?

Martin Khor analyses the collapse.

Action Alert Letter - July 2008

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AFTINET encouraged its members and the general public to voice their concerns about the WTO and its agenda for global trade to the government. This is the sample letter that was sent off toTrade Minister Crean.

Disappointing Deal in Hong Kong

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The 6th Ministerial Meeting of WTO concluded on 18 December. Late in the evening on the final day of the Ministerial, we crowded around a television screen at the Hong Kong Convention Centre to watch the closing ceremony. After a week of all night informal meetings, arm-twisting and spin about ‘development outcomes’, a deal had finally been struck.

Australia Driver in GATS Push - November 2005

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In the lead up to the WTO Ministerial in December in Hong Kong, Australia is playing a key role in proposing and supporting radical changes to the negotiating process in GATS. If accepted, these proposals will pressure countries to make more and ‘higher quality’ commitments in GATS.

The Cancun Meeting March 2004

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The Cancun Ministerial in Mexico collapsed due to frustration from developing countries at the unreasonable positions of many rich countries. Central to this, was the issue of agriculture.