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> Who received all those BIG Noise signatures? > What's up for Make Poverty History in 2006? > It's Fairtrade Fortnight time!
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE
WTO TALKS IN HONG KONG
The World Trade Organisation met in Hong Kong in December to agree new trade rules which will form part of the Doha Development Round of trade talks.
Sadly, the meeting in Hong Kong was a lost opportunity to make trade fairer for poor people around the world.
Rich countries put their own commercial interests before the interests of the poor in developing countries. Small progress in agriculture was more than cancelled out by backward steps in other areas, but most of the difficult decisions were put off to a further meeting in early 2006.
Rich countries agreed to eliminate the support they give to business in rich countries to sell their products overseas (export subsidies) by 2013. This is three years later than that called for by countries and campaigners around the world, with the European Union, including Ireland, holding out for a later date.
Meanwhile, in the negotiations on taxes on imports of industrial goods and on the trade in services (such as banking but also vital areas for poverty reduction such as water and education) poor countries were asked yet again to sign up to agreements which they had rejected many times. In the end though rich countries pushed through an agreement which reflected their interests.
But it could have been worse.
Developing countries showed determination in fighting the demands of rich countries and fought off some of the rich country demands. Groups of developing nations came together to insist on progress on agriculture talks. And on the streets of Hong Kong campaigners from all around the world, including Oxfam, were making a Big Noise calling for trade justice.
2006 will be a key year for trade
Much has yet to be done. The major decisions, including those needed to ensure that the way rich countries support their farmers does not undermine farmers in poor countries, have still to be taken. And poor countries will continue to have to fight attempts by rich countries to make demands for their own commercial interests rather than delivering the promised development round. Oxfam will continue to campaign to Make Trade Fair at the WTO in 2006.
- For Oxfam's analysis on the talks see www.oxfamireland.org/policypapers
- Also see www.maketradefair.com
