By Gargi Parsai
New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) As the World Trade Organisation's Conference in Buenos Aires ended in a stalemate with the 164 Member countries not even agreeing on a joint declaration, the civil society groups (CSO) pointed out the procedural shortcomings that were constraining policy space for job creation and development and warned against dangers of the multilateral body becoming a platform for expansion of big business agenda.
No mention was made in the closing remarks of the Chair on pubic stockholding and food security, meaning thereby, that the Peace Clause on this issue will continue for developing and Least developed Countries, sources present at the conference told UNI.
The Director-General of WTO and Chairperson of 11 Ministerial Conference said it was 'disappointing' that members were not flexible and that every ministerial conference cannot deliver results.
Expressing relief that the push by giant technology corporation for an agenda to expand WTO rules over future digital economy failed to garner support, the civil society groups, who were a significant voice at the conference, were disappointed that a permanent solution was not found for public stockholding of food to remove WTO constraints on a country’s ability to feed their hungry populations and improve farmers livelihoods and to discipline trade-distorting subsidies (by developed countries).
The 80 civil society representatives affiliated to the global 'Our World Is Not For Sale' welcomed that Members recognised it was pre-mature for the WTO to begin negotiations on digital economy and simply re-affirmed the existing work programme for discussions on e-commerce. No new rules on domestic regulations were agreed upon. Likewise, most members realised that no new negotiations on investment facilitation were warranted and decided againt a new mandate on the issue.
“Other issues like micro and small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and “gender and trade” are Trojan Horses for sneaking in “new issues” like e-commerce, and represent the wrong agenda of further benefits for corporations at the expense of jobs and development,’’ the civil society groups said.
Separately, the Swadesh Jagran Manch representative attending the Conference told the UNI that they shared the government concern about the manner in which the WTO functions.
He said that during discussions with NGOs it was felt that India must take a lead role in restructuring the pattern of discussion and objectives.
The meeting collapsed after the US representative blocked agreement on permanent solution to public stockholding on which India and other developing countries insisted as it was an agenda set in the Nairobi Ministerial.
The US and other developed countries were more keen on moving ahead with e-commerce and such issues.
Apparently the European Union did not play a constructive role in breaking the stalemate, sources said.
UNI GP AE 1012