21 March 2000
Contents:
- WTO and Australian Salmon
Quarantine Laws
- WTO Framework and Structures: the
Debate
- Coming Events
- Join AFTINET now!
1) The WTO and Australian Salmon
Quarantine Laws
The Australian government has refused to appeal the WTO
decision upholding the Canadian complaint that Australian quarantine restrictions for the
packaging of imported fresh salmon were too restrictive. The deadline for the appeal has
now passed. Negotiations between the Australian and Canadian govern-ments are still
proceeding about how less restrictive measures will be implemented, with Minister Mark
Vaile claiming that the agreements reached so far will still reduce the risk of imported
disease.
The Tasmanian government argues this is not the case and
reaffirmed today that it will not lift its ban on imports of fresh salmon. The Tasmanian
government has produced a detailed import risk analysis which shows that the Tasmanian
salmon industry, currently disease-free, would be at risk if the ban were lifted. It is
not clear what action Canada might be able to take against Tasmania through the WTO if it
continues to defy both the WTO and the Federal Government.
An AFTINET media release which updated the letter in the
last bulletin was quoted by the Hobart Mercury of 17/3/2000 and there was interest from
several other print media. The release emphasised that this decision is the latest of many
by the WTO which puts the commercial priorities of exporters above issues like the
environment and health and safety. The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
Committee report on this issue has been postponed until 12 April.
The National Anglers Lobby, which represents over 4.5
million recreational anglers of Australia has produced a sticker promoting disease-free
local fresh fish. The sticker, "We sell fish, we care" is to be displayed at
fresh seafood outlets in major supermarkets across the country. Consumers will be asked to
purchase where this sticker is displayed.
For further information see the website http://members.iinet.net.au/~jenks/salmon4.html
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2) WTO Framework and Structures:
the Debate
a) Some WTO member governments are at least acknowledging
that there are problems which require change. The European Trade Commissioner, Pascal
Lamy, while still supporting a new round of WTO negotiations, has acknowledged that the
WTO lacks transparency and that developing country governments have legitimate complaints
about the neglect of economic development issues. In the longer term, he suggested to a
European Parliamentary Committee, the possibility of setting up a WTO parliamentary
assembly should be examined to strengthen the democratic control of the WTO (EUR News
Report, 21/02/00). Further information on the EU position can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/2000_round/ecwto01.htm
b) In response to Seattle the WTO itself has initiated a
survey of non-government organisations to establish a forum where NGOs can express views
about the WTO. There is no proposal from the WTO that this forum will have any formal
influence on WTO structures. However, it provides an opportunity for NGOs to receive
regular information about WTO activities and feed back their views. The website address is
www.wto.org/wto/feedback.htm
c) On March 10, 100 days after the "Battle of
Seattle" the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions General Secretary
claimed that WTO member governments had failed to grasp the lessons of Seattle. He called
on governments to take urgent action to defend basic labour standards during
globalisation, to tackle the concerns of developing countries about fair treatment in the
multilateral trading system, and to make the trading system environmentally sustainable. www.icftu.org
d) On 15th March, 2000 manufacturing workers rallied in
Brisbane for "fair trade not free trade" to express their concern about the
crisis in Australian manufacturing industry and the closure of the Evans Deakin
manufacturing plant. Australian Manufacturing Workers Union National Secretary Doug
Cameron argued that job losses have been exacerbated by government’s blind commitment
to free trade at the expense of industry development. He called for a reduction in company
tax for Australian-based manufacturing companies and for Australia’s tariff
commitments in the WTO on manufactured goods to be raised from 5% to 10%, which he argued
is the tariff level of many of Australia’s trading partners. The Queensland Premier
subsequently announced he would support an inquiry into manufacturing industry.
e) To coincide with President Clinton’s visit to India
this week a group of US and Indian community organisation and unions including the
International Forum on Globalisation produced a statement arguing that WTO agreements have
contributed to inequality and the environmental damage. It criticised WTO’s rules and
procedures as undemocratic, non-transparent and non-accountable. It called on the
governments to ensure that all trade between the United States and India contributes to
the increased well-being and improved labour, social and environmental rights of people in
both countries. Contact divwomen@del6.vsnl.net.in
for more information.
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3) Coming Events
a) The Australian Council for Overseas Aid forum on TRADE
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
VENUE: ACFOA Human Rights Office,
"Blue Room", 124 Napier Street (Uniting Church premises), Fitzroy, VICTORIA Tel:
(03) 9417 7505
DATE AND TIME: Monday March 27, 2000 from
12.30 to 2.30 PM
Speakers are ANNA REYNOLDS (Australian
Conservation Foundation) on the Seattle WTO meeting and JIM REDDEN
[Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA)] on the UNCTAD forum in Bangkok.
Both speakers will address the implications of these
meetings for NGOs concerned with human rights, the environment and sustainable
development, followed by further discussion and analysis and input on labour issues.
b) PEOPLE’S SUMMIT 2000 : SHATTERING
ILLUSIONS: The Truth about Australia’s Unemployment & Globalisation
Date and Time: Sunday 30 April from
9.00am-3.3Opm
Venue: Gallery Function Centre, Level 6,
University of Technology, Sydney (Main entrance off Broadway)
Speakers include Prof. Jane Kelsey,
University of Auckland, New Zealand, on "Globalisation: The New Zealand
Experience"; Dr Ian Watson, University of Sydney and Dr
Geoff Dow, University of Queensland, on unemployment; Anna Reynolds,
Australian Conservation Foundation; Trevor Thomas, Jubilee 2000 Movement;
James Goodman, UTS and Lee Rhiannon, Greens MLC on
globalisation.
Further information: Contact Summit 2000 Coordinator,
Frances Milne, Economic Reform Australia Phone/fax: 02 9810 7812 email milne@itlite.com.au
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4) Join AFTINET Now
(Click
here to locate the Subscription Form elsewhere on this web site.)
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