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The WTO: Enough is Enough By Abigail Langweiler The World Trade Organization (WTO), one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the world, is holding its Ministerial Summit in Seattle from November 29 to December 3. This meeting will shape the rules of the global economy for many future decades. Trade ministers from about 134 nations will attend, welcomed by President Clinton, who is pushing these leaders to initiate a new round of "free trade" negotiations. These negotiations will affect areas such as investment, agriculture, forest products and government procurement. With more free trade agreements, more citizens' rights will be violated and more large companies will be able to make profits anywhere, anytime, any way without any interference from civil society and conscience. Protestors and supporters of human and environmental rights are eager to meet in Seattle to oppose this takeover of countries and economies. One of the major trade deals being opposed by protestors is business with China. Companies who wish to do business with China are attempting to allow the country into the WTO despite its bad record regarding labor rights and abuse of human rights. These companies are interested in instituting programs that will help them increase profits at the expense of workers. Protestors believe this action should be halted and surely so would the public if they knew the true outcome of the WTOs actions Ð trade agreements that counter existing civil rights in a country with no say in the negotiations. Along with the issue of allowing China into the trade agreements, there are a multitude of other actions of the WTO that need to be addressed and confronted. As shown by the fact that companies working with the organization only desire an increase in profits, the WTO serves only the interests of multinational corporations and, although it is supposed to be a democratic institution, its policies affect all aspects of society and the environment. All proceedings and negotiations are held in secret and none of the records are released. Requests for information are constantly denied, suggesting that the WTO is perhaps covering up their unethical treatment of societies and the environment. These are not qualities of a democratic institution. The WTO apparently feels compelled to decide on its own the fate of other countries' domestic laws and trade policies. If its dispute panel finds that a domestic law is a "barrier to trade," they can abolish it. However, the dispute panel comprises merely three members who are not screened for a conflict of interest. Thus, the judgement on a country's trade policies is completely one-sided and inaccurate. This act of the WTO clearly infringes on a country's national sovereignty. The system that this organization has set up between countries included in the decisions made has the power to economically sanction countries to force them to comply with whatever it deems necessary regardless of the consequences. The WTO has even replaced governments of other countries with non-elected, unaccountable corporate-backed "governments." True, the WTO is supposed to regulate world trade as its title states, but it does not and should not have the ability to infringe on a country's sovereignty by altering its government, changing its trade policies to accommodate large corporations, and placing people or the environment in jeopardy. Abigail Langeweiler is a freshman at Ithaca College. |
