In The News

Trade Ruling Is Expected to Favor Biotech Food

Andrew Pollack February 6, 2006
The US is seeking a ruling from the WTO that could be a turning point in the fight over the growth of agricultural biotechnology. After numerous delays, the WTO will decide whether Europe is restricting the importation of genetically modified crops without legal basis. Joined by Canada and Argentina, the US calls European delays a moratorium, while Europe counters that the delays are justified...

China, the WTO and Globalization

Dorothy Guerrero February 6, 2006
Most commentators, stunned at China’s growth, are interested in projecting how soon the country will overtake the US as the world’s largest economy. But for the Chinese people, the more pertinent forecast is when the benefits of WTO accession and foreign investment will make their way to them. China has succeeded in making itself a top destination for foreign direct investment by offering tax...

Free and Fair Trade

Noam Chomsky January 30, 2006
MIT professor Noam Chomsky envisions the potential of “just globalization,” in an interview with Global Agenda, and raises concerns about the lack of truly free trade and evenhanded governance within the changing global business climate. Contending that everyone favors globalization, or “international integration,” he cautions about divisive applications that are detrimental to the rights of...

Africa Hosts its First Major Anti-Globalization Forum

January 25, 2006
For the sixth time since 2000, NGO representatives, fair-trade advocates, anti-globalization protestors and activists of all kinds unite at the World Social Forum, this week in Mali. By tackling the problems of inequality, debt relief and trade realities that trouble the developing world, the forum serves as foil to the World Economic Forum, a meeting of the world’s economic elite, held...

India to WTO: Help Us Protect Herbs, Tea, Yoga

Eric Bellman December 19, 2005
India is spearheading a drive among developing nations to ensure that the WTO address “biopiracy” at this year’s meetings in Hong Kong. Along with countries like Brazil and China, India is seeking to prevent the international pharmaceutical industry from exploiting its native plants, animals and traditional remedies. Countries like India perceive biopiracy as a threat, particularly if a...

The WTO Can Promote Both Free Trade and Human Rights

Susan Ariel Aaronson December 13, 2005
As protesters flock to the WTO meeting in Hong Kong along with finance ministers and business leaders, many observers, including Susan Ariel Aaronson and Jamie M. Zimmerman, agree with their claims that the WTO should be seeking relevance beyond just trade liberalization. But a wider focus – on human rights, development and labor – need not require any shift away from the WTO's central...

Trade Rounds a Harder Sell

Guy de Jonquières December 13, 2005
As ministers from all around the world gather in Hong Kong to inaugurate the latest WTO trade round, Financial Times columnist Guy de Jonquiéres sees signs of trouble. The meeting has a relatively modest agenda and is being primarily promoted as focusing on development and poverty. But given that the WTO's raison d'etre is liberalization and the creation of opportunities, not aid or the...