12.07.2015 Views

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

From Poverty to Power Green, Oxfam 2008 - weman

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

FROM POVERTY TO POWERdumping on world markets that cost ten million poor farmers inWest Africa between 8 per cent and 20 per cent of their income. 59The WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture did, however, close downsome of the avenues for Northern subsidies, and developing countriessuch as Brazil have become increasingly assertive in taking the subsidysuperpowers <strong>to</strong> the WTO court and winning, as in the cases of UScot<strong>to</strong>n subsidies and EU sugar subsidies. According <strong>to</strong> trade lawyers, a<strong>to</strong>tal of some $13bn in rich-country agriculture payments are on thewrong side of the law, and this promises a procession of court cases atthe WTO in coming years. 60In addition, the Doha negotiations at least introduced some usefulideas for how <strong>to</strong> adapt agricultural trade rules <strong>to</strong> meet the needs ofpoor people, which may eventually be adopted.Vulnerable developingcountries won recognition for their right <strong>to</strong> have extra flexibility <strong>to</strong>protect ‘special products’ of particular importance <strong>to</strong> food securityand rural development from premature liberalisation. Regrettably,rich countries and large developing-country exporters launched aconcerted attempt <strong>to</strong> water down these exemptions by restricting thecriteria and permitted number of products. 61The rise of China and other leading developing countries is changingthe dynamics of international trade negotiations. Where once theUSA and the EU used <strong>to</strong> negotiate between themselves and then presentthe rest of the world with a fait accompli, the WTO is increasinglymultipolar, with India and Brazil at the heart of negotiations, alongsidelarger groupings such as the G90 alliance of smaller economies.This geopolitical shift holds out the prospect of fairer trade rules, bu<strong>to</strong>nly if the USA and the EU can be persuaded <strong>to</strong> put long-termdevelopment at the heart of trade negotiations – something whichcurrently looks a long way off.While most public attention has focused on the WTO, there hasbeen a proliferation of bilateral and regional accords, which are inmany cases even more damaging. Around 26 developing countrieshave now signed ‘free trade agreements’ (FTAs) with rich countries,and more than 100 are engaged in negotiations. An average of twobilateral investment treaties are signed every week.Virtually no country,however poor, has been left out.322

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!