WTO Ministerial Section • Volume 9 • Number 3 • 2nd February 2005

Hong Kong Civil Society Organisations Prepare For December WTO Ministerial

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FIRST PHASE OF CAN-MERCOSUR AGREEMENT ENTERS INTO FORCE

A free trade agreement between Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay came into effect on 1 February as the first step towards a wider trade agreement between the Andean Community (CAN) and the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR) signed at the end of 2004.

Regional news sources say that the agreement will be enforced among Colombia, Argentina and Uruguay since only these three countries have submitted the necessary notifications to the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI). It is expected that the other two full members of MERCOSUR — Brazil and Uruguay — as well as the four remaining members of the CAN — Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela — will submit their notifications in the coming weeks, putting into place the broader agreement between the two South American trade blocs.

"Acuerdo CAN-Mercosur rige para Colombia desde mañana," CM&, 31 January 2005; "Arranca el acuerdo de CAN con MERCOSUR," PORTAFOLIO.COM.CO, 31 January 2005; "Acuerdo CAN-Mercosur rige para Colombia desde hoy," EL ESPECTADOR, 31 January 2005.

Civil society organisations have started preparing for activities leading up to and surrounding the WTO’s sixth Ministerial Conference, which will be held there from 13-18 December this year. Domestic non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions, campaign groups, grassroots organisations and student associations will meet with their overseas counterparts on 26-27 February in Hong Kong. At the gathering, they will outline a strategy for the upcoming months and launch an ‘International Coordination Network’ that will coordinate local and international protests surrounding the December WTO summit.

International cooperation would be accompanied by local education efforts, said Suzanne Wu Sui Shan, an officer at the Hong Kong People’s Alliance on the WTO. Civil society organisations will organise workshops and seminars throughout the year to inform people about the effects of WTO rules and bilateral trade agreements, particularly the one between mainland China and Hong Kong.

Shan expressed concern that the "sanctioned protest area" will be small and isolated. She also worried that the Hong Kong police’s statement that they will try to prevent "troublemakers" from entering the former British colony during the Ministerial might mean that they will deny entry to members of partner groups. Her organisation has asked the Hong Kong authorities to facilitate their collaborators’ entry. "Police cooperation," she added, "could help keep things like traffic smooth, and help organisations get their message across."

ICTSD reporting; "Protesters meet in HK ahead of WTO gathering," FINANCIAL TIMES, 1 February 2005

HELSINKI PROCESS ADVOCATES FAIR GLOBALISATION

On 27 January, the Helsinki Process released three reports on governing globalisation, mobilising resources for the Millennium Development Goals, and security issues in the 21st century. The reports were released simultaneously at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos and at the World Social Forum at Porto Alegre. Among the key recommendations in the report on governing globalisation was the establishment of an expanded G-8 — a "G-20" including both developing and developed country members — to help bridge the North-South gap and provide "coherent and legitimate global leadership" and global economic stewardship. Other recommendations flowing from the Helsinki Process included greater involvement of parliamentarians in supervising global economic management, as well as a joint accountability report by the heads of the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO.

The Helsinki Process was created by the Finnish Government in co-operation with the government of Tanzania in 2002 to promote democracy and equality in international relations. It is governed by a 22-member Helsinki Group, which is co-chaired by the Finnish and Tanzanian Foreign Ministers and seeks to "crystallise ideas on how to improve the present governance of globalisation." The Helsinki Process includes three "tracks": new approaches to global problem solving; the global economic agenda; and human security. These tracks are tasked with developing feasible, practical and strategic policy responses to the lack of fair and effective global governance, financing for the Millennium Development Goals, and addressing new and emerging human security concerns.

To access the report "Governing Globalization - Globalizing Governance: New Approaches to Global Problem Solving" visit http://www.helsinkiprocess.fi/netcomm/ImgLib/24/89/Track1.pdf

ICTSD reporting.

FTAs LAMBASTED AT WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

The continuing proliferation of bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs), especially those between rich countries and poor ones, came under heavy criticism at the World Social Forum held in Porto Alegre, Brazil from 26-31 January.

NGOs, union members, academics, farmers, and parliamentarians blasted the FTAs for making developing countries accept commitments far deeper than those required by WTO rules.

The Africa Trade Network (ATN), an umbrella organisation of African civil society groups, organised several panel meetings on the ongoing Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between African, Pacific, and Caribbean countries and the EU. The ATN used these sessions to promote the "Stop EPA Campaign," which it runs along with organisations including Oxfam International, ActionAid, and Third World Network.

The Porto Alegre gathering confirmed that the next World Social Forum will be held in Africa in 2007.

ENDA-Tiers Monde; Flamme d’Afrique.