Cancun Update (cancun-update@iatp.org)
Posted: 09/13/2003 By dwiehoff@iatp.org
Cancun Update
September 13, 2003
* * * C O N T E N T S * * *
- Quick Update from Cancun
DOCUMENT LIBRARY
- Hacia la Soberanía Aimentaria
(Resumen)
- Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. Press Briefing
- Rich countries play blame game: G22
has put EU and US on the back foot
- Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. Press Briefing
- Press Briefing by Sen. Charles Grassley
- Oxfam: leaked EU negotiating text is
a disaster for the poor
- Press Briefing by Amb. Zoellick and
Sec. Venemen
- Developing Countries Prepare for
Agriculture Battle at Cancun Ministerial
NEWS
- Developing Nations have Little Hope
for Trade Forum
- Protesters Disagree on Shutting Down
WTO
- Mexico Prepares Tight Security for
Upcoming WTO Meeting
- WTO Trade Summit Focusing on
Agriculture this Time
- Canadian Farm Groups Fighting to Keep
Protection
- Editorial: Showdown in Cancún
- WTO Ministerial Opens by Setting up
Five Working Groups to Reconcile
Draft
- Mobilzation and Death of a Korean
Farmer
- Cancun Day 1, and EU is Already
Accused of Backtracking
- EU Reneges on Pledge to Third World
- WTO Meeting Finds Protests Inside and
Out
- Annan Decries Trade Policies
- WTO States in Tough Talks at Cancun
Summit
- Trade Ministers Grope for Consensus,
Activists Mourn Death of Militant
- Trade Talks Enter Crucial Phase
- U.S. Races to Break WTO Impasse
- Agriculture Still the Sticking Point
at WTO Talks
- Developing States Block Investment
Talks
- Cotton Deal Holds Key to WTO Subsidy
Row
- Nations Dig in Their Heels at WTO
Face-off
- African Nations Press for an End to
Cotton Subsidies in the West
- African Nations Press for an End to
Cotton Subsidies in the West
- World Trade Talks Show Little
Progress
- Southern Senators Weigh in on WTO
Cotton Talks
- WTO States in Tough Talks at Cancun
Summit
- WTO Makes Progress on Agricultural
Reform
- Brazil Sees WTO Agricultural Accord
- Cancun Steels for Protests at Trade
Talks
- Trade Summit Faces Crucial Day
- India, China Firm on Demands
- Brazil Seeking Stronger Ties
- WTO Issues Measure to Cut Farm
Subsidies
*********************************************************************
Update from Cancun
Dear Subscribers, The WTO Ministerial in Cancun is starting to work on the
tough issues that have plagued the WTO since its founding. We just posted a
draft copy of the new Agriculture text at TradeObservatory.org. There are great
interviews, video clips, photos and more at www.tradeobservatory.org and www.radiocancun.org. The IATP Fair Trade
Fair closed today. It was a great success, bringing together producers from
around the world, retailers, trade activist, trade ministers and many others
who were eager to learn more about Fair Trade. You can see all the details
regarding the Fair at www.fairtradeexpo.org.
I will be sending out Cancun Update more often in the next few days as the
negotiations heat up. For the latest news and reports, visit www.tradeobservatory.org.
DOCUMENT LIBRARY
*********************************************************************
Hacia la Soberanía Aimentaria (Resumen)
Summary of the draft of "Toward Food Sovereignty: Constructing an
Alternative to the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Agriculture."
Spanish version.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2401
Sept. 11, 4:30 p.m. Press Briefing
Transcript of the Sept. 11, 2003, 4:30 p.m. press briefing by Deputy U.S. Trade
Representative Peter Allgeier and Under Secretary of Agriculture J.B. Penn at
the WTO ministerial in Cancun.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2402
Rich countries play blame game: G22 has put EU and US on the back foot Press release:
"Oxfam President Mary Robinson today
said the EU and the US were resorting to divide-and-rule tactics instead of
honoring the spirit of the promises made when the trade round was launched two
years ago in Doha.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2403
Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. Press Briefing
Transcript of the Sept. 12, 2003, 9:30 a.m. press briefing by Deputy U.S. Trade
Representative Peter Allgeier and Under Secretary of Agriculture J.B. Penn at
the WTO ministerial in Cancun.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2404
Press Briefing by Sen. Charles Grassley
Transcript of a Sept. 11 press briefing by Sen. Charles Grassley at the WTO ministerial
in Cancun.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2405
Oxfam leaked EU negotiating text is a disaster for the poor Press release
by Oxfam commenting on a leaked European Union document from the WTO
ministerial at Cancun.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2406
Press Briefing by Amb. Zoellick and Sec. Venemen
Transcript of the Sept. 9, 2003 press briefing by Robert B. Zoellick, United
States Trade Representative, and Ann M. Veneman, United States Secretary of
Agriculture, at the WTO ministerial in Cancun.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2407
Developing Countries Prepare for Agriculture Battle at Cancun Ministerial
Third World Network report from Cancun, Sept. 9, 2003.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/library/index.cfm?ID=2408
Developing Nations have Little Hope for Trade Forum
Arizona Republic | By Tessie Borden | Sept. 7, 2003 MEXICO CITY
This week's World Trade Organization
meeting in Cancun will pit developing vs. developed countries in the fight over
opening a place for small farmers in the world market.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4719
Protesters Disagree on Shutting Down WTO
Seattle Post-Intelligencer | By Traci Carl | Sept. 7, 2003 CANCUN,
Mexico - As World Trade Organization ministers from around the world check into
high-rise beach hotels this week, protesters meet in ramshackle offices and
tent communities, fighting over how they will wage war against free trade.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4720
Mexico Prepares Tight Security for Upcoming WTO Meeting
Agence France Presse | Sept. 7, 2003
Mexico is preparing an air, sea and land security
blanket around the tourist resort of Cancun to protect the upcoming World Trade
Organization meeting from threats by antiglobalization activists who have vowed
to derail it, officials said Sunday.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4721
WTO Trade Summit Focusing on Agriculture
this Time
Miami Herald | By Jane Bussey | Sept. 10, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico
As 146 trade ministers begin five days of
global trade talks, the most modern trade summit ever - from the ever-present cellphones
to the sophisticated electronic access cards - is dominated by the age-old
issue of agriculture.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4722
Canadian Farm Groups Fighting to Keep
Protection
Globe and Mail | By Steven Chase | Sept. 9, 2003 CANCUN, MEXICO
Canadian farm groups are fighting a move at
global free-trade talks in Mexico to drastically scale back the protection from
foreign imports that dairy, egg and poultry producers have enjoyed for about
three decades.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4725
Editorial: Showdown in Cancún
New York Times | Sept. 10, 2003
The world's attention should be focused on
the World Trade Organization's meeting at Cancún this week for reasons having
nothing to do with the anti-globalization protests.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4727
WTO Ministerial Opens by Setting up Five Working Groups to Reconcile Draft
Sept. 10, 2003 CANCUN
The fifth ministerial of the World Trade
Organization formally opened in Cancun this morning (Sept. 10) as ministers
agreed to create five working groups that will attempt to reconcile the
outstanding issues in the draft declaration.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4730
Mobilization and Death of a Korean Farmer
Via Campesina | Sept. 11, 2003
Just as delegates at the Fifth Ministerial
of the World Trade Organization were being welcomed with close attention to
protocol, thousands of and indigenous people from around the world filled the
streets of Cancun in a peaceful march to present our views on the problems in
agriculture worldwide.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4731
Cancun Day 1, and EU is Already Accused of Backtracking
Independent (London) | Philip Thornton in Cancun | Sept. 11, 2003
The British Government was embarrassed at
the high-profile world trade talks by the disclosure that the European
Commission was backtracking on plans to cut its massive farm subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4733
EU Reneges on Pledge to Third World
The Guardian | By Larry Elliott and Charlotte Denny | Sept. 11, 2003
The European commission was last night
secretly preparing to sabotage plans to help poor countries trade their way out
of poverty, as backstairs wrangling dominated the opening day of the World
Trade Organization's talks in Cancun, Mexico.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4734
WTO Meeting Finds Protests Inside and Out
Los Angeles Times | By Chris Kraul | Sept. 11, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico
As thousands of anti-globalization
protesters marched in sweltering heat, delegates at the opening of global trade
talks were urged to spread the benefits of trade to poor countries or watch
people in the developing world lose hope of attaining a better life.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4735
Annan Decries Trade Policies
Washington Post | By Kevin Sullivan | Sept. 10, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico, Sept. 10
A global trade summit opened today with
stern words from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and a march by thousands of
activists - including one who apparently committed suicide - who said the trade
policies of the United States and other wealthy countries were keeping much of
the world mired in poverty.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4736
WTO States in Tough Talks at Cancun Summit
Reuters | Sept. 11, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters)
Ministers got down to hard bargaining on
Thursday aimed at reigniting World Trade Organization free trade talks stalled
by a stand-off between rich and poor nations over farm subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4740
Trade Ministers Grope for Consensus, Activists Mourn Death of Militant
Agence France Presse | Sept. 11, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (AFP)
WTO ministers groped for consensus on key
issues holding up a new global trade accord as activists mourned the suicide of
a South Korean anti-WTO protester.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4741
Trade Talks Enter Crucial Phase
BBC News | Sept. 12, 2003
World trade talks are hanging in the
balance as negotiators attempt to break the deadlock on farm subsidies. As a
third day of discussions gets underway in Cancun, Mexico, the United States and
Europe is again expected to clash with a bloc of developing nations bent on
re-writing world trade rules.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4742
U.S. Races to Break WTO Impasse
Wall Street Journal | By Neil King Jr. and Scott Miller | Sept. 12, 2003
CANCUN, Mexico
U.S. trade negotiators scrambled to salvage
World Trade Organization talks amid mounting opposition from developing
countries reluctant to further open their markets to imported food and
industrial goods.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4746
Agriculture Still the Sticking Point at WTO Talks
Associated Press | By Naomi Koppel | Sept. 12, 2003
Poor nations are standing firm on their
demands for big cuts in agricultural subsidies despite criticism that they are
offering little in return.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4747
Developing States Block Investment Talks
Financial Times (London) | By Guy de Jonquieres and Frances Williams | Sept. 12,
2003
More than 70 developing countries yesterday
announced their refusal to go ahead with World Trade Organization negotiations
on investment and other new issues, potentially creating a serious obstacle to
agreement at this week's ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4748
Cotton Deal Holds Key to WTO Subsidy Row
The Independent | By Philip Thornton | Sept. 12, 2003
Europe and the United States were last
night facing a three-pronged attack by some of the world's poorest countries
seeking massive concessions as part of a deal to push ahead with an agreement
to liberalize free trade.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4749
Nations Dig in Their Heels at WTO Face-off
Miami Herald | By Jane Bussey | Sept. 12, 2003
Fissures in the world trade consensus
threatened to widen into a chasm at the world trade talks here Thursday as
developing countries and industrialized ones hardened their positions on farm
subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4750
African Nations Press for an End to Cotton Subsidies in the West
New York Times | By Elizabeth Becker | Sept. 12, 2003 CANCÚN, Mexico, Sept. 11
The director general of the World Trade
Organization said today that he would intervene to address the grievances of
four poor African nations whose cotton farmers have been hurt by rich nations'
farm subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4751
African Nations Press for an End to Cotton Subsidies in the West
New York Times | By Elizabeth Becker | Sept. 12, 2003 CANCÚN, Mexico, Sept. 11
The director general of the World Trade Organization said today that he would
intervene to address the grievances of four poor African nations whose cotton
farmers have been hurt by rich nations' farm subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4752
World Trade Talks Show Little Progress
Reuters | By Patrick Lannin | Sept. 12, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters) -
World trade talks near the half-way stage on Friday with rich and poor nations
expected to be presented with a first attempt at compromise although they
remain divided over the core issue of how to slash billions of dollars of
subsidies to Western farmers.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4753
Southern Senators Weigh in on WTO Cotton Talks
Associated Press | By Jeffrey McMurray | Sept. 12, 2003 WASHINGTON
Three Southern senators have endorsed a
proposal by the United States to broaden the scope of this week's World Trade
Organization talks, a move they hope will take the focus off subsidies for
American cotton growers.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4754
WTO States in Tough Talks at Cancun Summit
Reuters | By Richard Waddington | Sept. 13, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters)
Ministers got down to hard bargaining on Thursday aimed at reigniting World
Trade Organization free trade talks stalled by a stand-off between rich and
poor nations over farm subsidies.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4755
WTO Makes Progress on Agricultural Reform
Associated Press | Sept. 13, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (AP)
World Trade Organization members have made
progress on the thorny issue of agricultural reform and are preparing a
proposal aimed at closing the differences between rich and poor nations,
officials said Saturday.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4756
Brazil Sees WTO Agricultural Accord
Reuters | Sept. 13, 2003 BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters)
Brazil said on Saturday it expected world
trade talks to produce a modest, general accord on agriculture that set the
agenda for further talks but did not target the subsidy cuts developing nations
are after.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4757
Cancun Steels for Protests at Trade Talks
Reuters | Sept. 13, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico (Reuters)
World trade negotiators were making
progress on Saturday in an attempt to bridge deep divisions between rich and
poor nations and revive chances of sealing a global market-opening pact by the
end of 2004.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4758
Trade Summit Faces Crucial Day
BBC News | Sept. 13, 2003
Negotiations at the world trade talks in
the Mexican city of Cancun have entered a critical phase with the sides
deadlocked over the issue of farm subsidies.
A new draft of the final declaration is being handed to delegations in
an effort to reconcile the United States and Europe on the one side and
developing nations on the other.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4759
India, China Firm on Demands
Times of India | Sept. 13, 2003 MEXICO
Mounting political pressure did not persuade
developing countries like India, Brazil and China to budge from their demand
for a commitment from EU and US for phased elimination of domestic support and
export subsidies in agriculture.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4760
Brazil Seeking Stronger Ties
Miami Herald | By Andrew Downie | Sept. 13, 2003 RIO DE JANEIRO
Trying to resist U.S. influence in Latin
America and fulfill a dream of bringing the region's countries together,
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been stepping up his efforts
to strengthen the Mercosur trading bloc and the alliance now engaged in
free-trade talks with the United States.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4761
WTO Issues Measure to Cut Farm Subsidies
Associated Press | By Naomi Koppel | Sept. 13, 2003 CANCUN, Mexico
The World Trade Organization issued a draft
resolution Saturday to force member countries to cut farm subsidies, but it
didn't go as far as many developing nations have demanded and some called it
unacceptable.
Get the details at:
http://www.tradeobservatory.org/news/index.cfm?ID=4762