 | Workshop on the WTO Agricultural Negotiations; Geneva; 17-20 March 2001Agricultural Negotiations at the WTOOutline and Overview - IGO; NGOs |
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Summary of Questions/Issues raised. 1 |
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2. WTO
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| Main index | Top | Perspectives of representatives | Outline |
| Top | Workshop on the WTO Agricultural Negotiations; Geneva; 17-20 March 2001Final ThoughtsMany of those who spoke would like to pretend the role of the TNCs in agriculture doesn't exist/ is someone else's problem. However the WTO is is having to start to listen to concerns of consumers and those from developing countries, who see the problem, while the US and EU are part of it. The representatives were probably right in that case in saying that we should speak to our governments! Transparency in the WTO. If this is in place then we should continue to seek clear labelling, as a selling point and not discriminatory, on country of origin; organic and GMO (If they really believe in the last they should be labelling it as an advantage! VEB) Pursue accountability of TNCs to WTO - seek practical ways to instigate this. Why are the farmers always at the bottom and receiving ever lower prices and lower % of income? How can farmers avoid the treadmill? Is change possible? What is politics doing to regulate retailers? We need to inform the public how retailers v. farming is really working. Public needs educating on all issues. How? Inform farmers on WTO. Farmers associations need to work at it. Educate the WTO. Who are the EU negotiators?? Need the agricultural round separate from the general round. WTO Issues Conflicting interests - developed/developing countries. More networking/more meetings. Organic farming solution to global problems. Where does it fit into WTO system? How to raise awareness of WTO with governments at home? Look at multi-functionality from a northern and a southern perspective. Models to demonstrate multi-functionality; discussion and evaluation; costing. Then discuss in WTO. Scenarios - consequences from our discussions - results for agricultural policies - for WTO discussion. EU agriculture more sustainable - find points of common ground with developing countries. Monitoring of balance between different WTO agreements. Accountability of TNCs. Marrakesh Agreement/Decision on NFIDC. Geographical destination Give agriculture in EU back to individual countries - renationalise.? World food programme - food security and WTO. Redefine food security. Agricultual representatives to work together to redefine agriculture and fair prices (re-value)? Sustainable agriculture v. less sustainable. How can the farmer be helped to survive in the WTO process? 'Cheap food' philosophy - EU can afford to pay more direct to producer for food. Can we design an EU agriculture which doesn't need to export except for special items? WTO linking with other MEAs ( Multinational Environmental Agreements) Admission procedure of WTO - who is trying to join? Relationships between practical and fundemental issues. Make negotiators understand 'on farm' reality. Clear labelling for increased transparency. Implications of TRIPS? (Patenting is not an issue in all countries but it should be). Biopiracy. Supply management.
What can we do? 1. Conflict between consumers ideas and farmers who are affected. Consumers have a fixed salary from elsewhere, there is no impact on them from agricultural policy. Are they thinking of tomorrow or next year. For the farmer long term planning is a luxury. 2. Education, education, education:- of farmers re WTO; of the public re the issues involved; of the negotiators. 3. One world philosophy - help south understand multi-functionality and sustainability as global issues. New price definition for farm products - internalisation of external effects. 4. More information needed (on policies etc.) Impact of different issues. Need to establish links with other groups in the same field (websites, other meetings). Lobby MPs and MEPs - leading to debates in October when WTO mandate is being discussed. Produce articles for others on what has been discussed. 5. Farmers together, working with consumers and others across the EU - a way forward for farmers - local, regional, national and international; practical and philosophical; may change the mind of the negotiators. Network for communication, information - use of e-mail, www., newspapers etc. Support NGOs - strengthen them so that they are heard in th WTO. Continue dialogue WTO-NGOs to influence thinking. Dialogue with our own governments.
To summarise Talk to our governments; talk to negotiators; exchange information; make negotiators aware; exchange studies, papers, material; help churches understand; network with NGOs and civil society (3rd world); influence public opinion; inform farmers; linking issues of local movements with global issues; complete our understanding. Use conflicts between WFS +5 (World Food Summit) and Rio +10 with WTO - (preparatory talks of WFS and Rio later this year). WFS - Aim to reduce hunger -review of last 5 years in November. Ideas for the future? WFS view - trade agreements have to fight hunger, not the other way round as is inWTO.
Rio+10 - met in summer 2000 - review and failures. Members of the group meeting volunteered to commit themselves to various tasks after the conference. The articles on these pages are part of that committment. VEB May 01 | |
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