Trade talks collapse

Attempts to revive the WTO failed in June, bringing new hope for the poor and the environment.

Top negotiators from the G4 (European Union, US, Brazil and India) had hoped to save the WTO Doha round of trade negotiations at a meeting in Potsdam, Germany.

The failure to narrow some of their differences is yet another nail in the coffin of the Doha round.

The collapse of these secretive trade talks is a good opportunity to develop an alternative approach to trade that works for developing countries and the environment

Joe Zacune, Friends of the Earth trade campaigner

WTO boss, Pascal Lamy, has warned that without a breakthrough very soon, the round could be put on hold for several years.

The main reasons for the collapse were the EU and US refusing to cut their farm subsidies significantly.

Their demand for much greater market-access to developing country markets and natural resources also played a big part in the collapse.

The "Doha Development Agenda"

The so-called "Doha Development Agenda" is not about development.

The poorest developing countries will lose out from current proposals.

Instead, the interests of the largest and most powerful countries and their trans-national corporations continue to dominate the WTO's agenda.

Considering the global impacts

The WTO doesn't consider the disastrous global impact its proposals will have on the environment and peoples' lives.

Escalating international trade in natural resources would damage global biodiversity and local economies.

Further information

Corporate conquest
(PDF† 147K) September 2006
Why the UK and its EU partners must stop forcing Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) upon developing countries.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

Discuss "Trade talks collapse" in our forum

Main image © WTO