GAWU tells WTO meeting to resist all unfair trade policies

Accra, Sept. 10, GNA- The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and some stakeholders, on Wednesday urged developing countries to resist all unfair trade policies at the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

Led by its Secretary General, Mr Samuel Kangah, the GAWU and its allies said they regard trade as an instrument of development and that there was the need to renegotiate trade agreements to remove the imbalances robbing developing countries of their sovereignty.

These were contained in a declaration on the "WTO Threat to Agriculture and Development" presented separately to the Ministries of Trade and Industries; and Finance after a route march in Accra. Mr Seth Addo, Chief Director, Ministry of Trade and Industry received the Declaration on behalf the Minister, Mr Alan Kyerematen, who together with TUC Secretary General, Mr Kwasi Adu-Amankwa are attending the Cancun Meeting.

Dr Osei Akoto, Deputy Finance Minister received that of the Finance Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo.

The organisations, which prepared the Declaration, included African Trade Network in Ghana, Civil Society organisations including the TUC, Abantu for Development, Third World Network-Africa and Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC).

Others were FoodSpan, and the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers, Rice and Cotton Growers Industries, and Action Aid Ghana.

The declaration complained of the unfair and devastating effects of WTO Agreements, describing them as "undemocratic and lack of transparency in making decisions at the WTO".

It said the continued insistence of the United States, the European Union, Canada and Japan on trade rules, that limit market access of agricultural goods from the developing world was destructive of agriculture and many economic activities in Ghana and Africa.

The Declaration stated that its support for the position of African countries seeking to review agreements to reduce and eventually eliminate the huge subsidies that the US, the EU and other European countries provide to large agricultural businesses.

These subsidies, they said destroy agricultural populations in Africa.

The WTO must also do away with all trade barriers that deny developing countries access to the markets of developed nations and restore the right of developing countries to support and protect staple food production such as rice, poultry, grains and tubers, the declaration said.

The Declaration affirmed its support for African representatives at the meeting to restore the right of African countries to support and promote industrial development in the same way that rich industrialised countries have done.

It also called for a review of the TRIPS Agreement to enable African countries to produce the necessary drugs to address the HIV/AIDS, and stop pharmaceutical companies from making undue profits at the expense of millions of Africans.

Equally, African delegates must restore the right of African to prevent multinational companies from pirating genetic resources and make profits at the expense of African farmers, who are made to lose control of seed production.

The declaration expressed concern about the Draft Ministerial Declaration for Cancun that has watered down the proposals from developing countries, including the Africa Group, to avoid dealing with issues in a definitive way.

"We stress our opposition to the US, EU, Canada and Japan in pushing for new issues to be negotiated in the WTO that would take away the sovereign rights of governments and people to pursue their development choices and strategies".

Some of the placards read "Resist the Bullies at WTO", "TRIPS Agreement Kills More Than HIV/AIDS," "No New Issues at WTO", "Africa is Not For Sale" and "US Farmers Bill Killing our Farmers".

Action Aid Country Director Madam Taaka Awori complained about the negative impact the increasing subsidies on agribusiness in the United States and Europe was having on farmers in developing countries, and supported efforts for the removal of the subsidies.

"We are here to argue that the objectives of such trade agreements is an improved life and dignity for all people, not just a few in the north, and not just a few large corporations" Madam Awori said.