International WTO Opponents Strategize on Blocking Hong Kong Accord's Implementation

Excerpt of World Social Forum speech by Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, produced by Scott Harris

International opponents of neoliberal economic and free trade policies promoted by Washington are now assessing the fallout from agreements reached at the World Trade Organization ministerial summit held in Hong Kong in December. WTO summits had collapsed before, in Seattle and Cancun, due to disagreements between developing and industrial nations over agricultural subsides. But in Hong Kong, marked by militant protests by farmers from around the world, a last-minute accord was reached when the U.S. and European Union agreed to cut export subsidies to their farmers by 2013.

Many observers believe that India and Brazil became key players in facilitating the Hong Kong agreement when they abandoned their former role as leaders of poor nations that had opposed policies primarily benefiting Western corporate interests in past WTO negotiations.

During the 6th World Social Forum held in Caracas, Venezuela in late January, there was much discussion and debate about how progressive activists, poor farmers and governments opposed to trade liberalization should proceed to effectively resist implementation of the WTO Hong Kong agreement that will next move to Geneva for further negotiations. Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, spoke optimistically of the fight ahead when she participated in a panel discussion at the World Social forum in Caracas on Jan. 28.

Contact Trade Watch by calling (202) 546-4996 or visit their website at www.citizen.org/trade Her talk was recorded by Between The Lines' Scott Harris.

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