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Appaling deal in HongKong
EU and US push corporate interests against environment and development
HONG KONG, CHINA, December 18, 2005 Although a face saving deal was
reached in Hong Kong today, the WTO and the global trade system remain
in crisis. Today's agreement contains proposals that will further
threaten the global environment and the livelihoods of the world's
poorest people.
"The so called gains for developing countries are just little crumbs
that will not make up the price millions of farmers, fisherfolks,
indigenous people and others in the developing world will have to pay as
a result of todays's deal," said Friends of the Earth International
chair Meena Raman from Malaysia.
"The deal struck in Hong Kong is a dangerous one. The WTO's agenda
driven by the EU, the US and their corporations override people's needs
and environmental concerns" Alexandra Wandel, trade campaigner of
Friends of the Earth Europe said.
"The HongKong deal is a bad deal for the poor and the environment that
has been dressed up to look good. Empty promises on aid have been made
to entice countries into potential agreements that could devastate
sustainable development and biodiversity in years to come," added Alexandra Wandel.
The EU, US and their allies completely ignored the demands of thousands
of farmers and fisher folks protesting outside the conference. Proposals
to open markets in farming and natural resource sectors, including
forests, fisheries and minerals, will benefit the world's largest
corporations, but are likely to have a devastasting impact on millions
of the world's poorest people, who rely on access to natural resources
for their livelihoods, food and medicine.
The most scandalous decisions taken at this week's meeting by the EU
include
- Agreeing to make drastic tariff reductions including in
ecologically sensitive sectors, forestry, fisheries and minerals that
will threaten the global environment as well as developing countries;
- Committing to the acceleration of negotiations on non tariff
barriers that will chill and dismantle vital environmental regulations
in the EU as well as elsewhere;
- Reducing flexibility from developing countries who don't want to
negotiate away essential services such as water and energy to
multinational corporations;
- Failing to guarantee an immediate end to export subsidies and
continuing to entrench domestic supports that harm farming in developing
countries, while also forcing developing countries to open their markets;
- Rejecting attempts by a number of developing countries to retain
rights over their own traditional knowledge and genetic resources.
For more information contact until December 19 in Hong Kong:
Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth Europe Trade Campaign: +852 6125
7644 or email alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org
Ronnie Hall, Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaign +852
6129 0419 ronnieh@foe.co.uk
For more information: 'tyranny of free trade' exposed in new report,
online here: http://www.foei.org/media/2005/1208.html
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and fair societies and for the protection of the environment,
unites more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups
and is part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International.
