Interviews
Pro-development approach essential if WTO talks to resume
31 Jul '08
2 min read
Commenting on another collapse of WTO talks in Geneva after more than a week of intense negotiations, the ITUC called for negotiators to make a clear shift from the current “NAMA” architecture for negotiations in manufactured products in order to provide less drastic tariff reductions and increased flexibilities for developing countries.
“A change in the conduct of the Doha negotiations is needed to really deliver benefits to the poor,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder, adding “developed country governments have to assume their responsibilities to contribute some fairness to the world trading system and not require huge sacrifices in return for minimal commitments on their side.”
Although progress was made on a number of issues that would benefit developing countries, there remained clear imbalances in key areas. Considerable weight was brought to bear on developing countries to accept the NAMA proposals that were on the table, even though they stood to result in job losses and increased pressure on workers' wages and working conditions, and to prevent new industrial jobs from being created.
“Any final deal must be analysed in terms of its benefits and impact for workers and the poor,” stated Ryder. ”The competitive pressures that cause violations of workers' rights and unequal distribution of the benefits of trade require serious attention when talks resume if workers and the poor are to benefit from trade liberalisation An agreement that brings more hardship to workers in developing countries is simply not acceptable.”
“A change in the conduct of the Doha negotiations is needed to really deliver benefits to the poor,” said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder, adding “developed country governments have to assume their responsibilities to contribute some fairness to the world trading system and not require huge sacrifices in return for minimal commitments on their side.”
Although progress was made on a number of issues that would benefit developing countries, there remained clear imbalances in key areas. Considerable weight was brought to bear on developing countries to accept the NAMA proposals that were on the table, even though they stood to result in job losses and increased pressure on workers' wages and working conditions, and to prevent new industrial jobs from being created.
“Any final deal must be analysed in terms of its benefits and impact for workers and the poor,” stated Ryder. ”The competitive pressures that cause violations of workers' rights and unequal distribution of the benefits of trade require serious attention when talks resume if workers and the poor are to benefit from trade liberalisation An agreement that brings more hardship to workers in developing countries is simply not acceptable.”
International Trade Union Confederation
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