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BREAKDOWN IN TRADE TALKS AT WTO: AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUSH FOR REAL FREE TRADE
Press Release from ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS INSTITUTE
Breakdown in Trade Talks at WTO: An Oppurtunity to Push for Real Free Trade
Sunday, 14 September, 2003, Lahore -- The decision by the G33 to walk out of the trade talks is perhaps the ultimate expression of this democratic organisation, where the rule of one member, one vote still holds true.
The talks broke down because the EU refused to reform its agricultural subsidies and attempted to foist new non-trade issues into the WTO - as a delaying tactic to avoid discussion of agriculture. But the days when a few thousand farmers in the EU are able to hold the world to ransom are over.
It is now essential that negotiations proceed on a more realistic set of issues. The Global Freedom to Trade Campaign believes that the world would be a freer, fairer, more peaceful and prosperous place if trade between people was free and not distorted by subsidies or regulations. Members of the campaign now urge the WTO to move forward with negotiation of the crucial issue of removing distortions to agriculture. The EU, US, Japan and other subsidy junkies must kick the habit.
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