AFTINET can make a submission which can be circulated for
endorsements. Member organisations should also make submissions if possible with emphasis
on their particular areas of interest. This is a great opportunity to educate politicians
and broaden the public and media debate about the WTO.
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2. ACTU Adopts Fair Trade Policy
The debate on trade policy at the ACTU Congress dominated the media in the last
week of June. This debate will have an important influence on ALP policy, which is to be
determined at the ALP conference July 31- Aug 3.
The final version of the ACTU policy is far more critical and broad-ranging than
previous trade policy. It notes the growth of international coalitions of unions,
non-government organisations and progressive churches expressing widespread community
discontent with international trade institutions, contributing to the defeat of the MAI in
the OECD and the failure of the Seattle WTO meeting.
The policy re-asserts the importance of UN and ILO conventions on human rights and
workers’ rights in the context of the pressures of global economic competition. It
supports the concept of fair trade which it argues does not mean protectionism but which
means changes to the current trade environment to enable progress for all countries in
terms of employment growth, social protections, core labour standards, a sustainable
environment and adherence to human rights and democratic values.
The policy supports restructuring of the WTO and other international trade and
financial institutions to achieve these objectives. This would require full transparency
and openness, involvement of representatives of civil society and the development of
policies to ensure the reduction of developmental inequalities, improvement of the
environment, and improvements in labour standards and gender imbalances.
The policy opposes treaties on investment like the MAI which remove government powers
to regulate foreign investment . The policy also resolves to oppose any treaty on trade in
services which restricts government funding of public services, removes regulation to
restrict foreign ownership in telecommunications or financial institutions, or removes
regulation which ensures Australian content in film and television.
The policy supports Tobin tax on international currency trading activity to inhibit
speculative capital flows which can destabilise economies.
The policy also supports international campaigns to monitor and publicise the
activities of transnational corporations like Rio Tinto, and proposals for regulation of
corporations through national and international agreements and codes to ensure conformity
to labour and environmental standards.
On tariffs, the policy supports a freeze on the current levels of Australian tariffs,
which are already below the levels of Australia’s major trading partners. The policy
also states the ACTU "will monitor the developments in the debate on social tariffs
and effective linkages between trade and social policies." The concept of social
tariffs means tariffs on products from countries whose governments do not enforce basic
human and labour rights and environment regulation . This policy has been promoted by the
AMWU and been debated in the media as reported in AFTINET
Bulletin no. 5.
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3. Success of Maude Barlow Public Lecture - tapes available
180 people heard Maude Barlow, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians at a
packed public lecture at Sydney University on June 27.
She analysed the growth of global inequality and corporate power, the impacts of
international trade agreements like NAFTA and the WTO and the growing global
citizen’s movement which is resisting these trends and demanding democratic
accountability from governments, corporations and international institutions. Tapes
of the lecture are $10 and can be ordered from Sarah Mitchell at PIAC – phone (02)
9299 7833 or email: smitchell@piac.asn.au.
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4. USA lobbies WTO to Oppose Labelling of Genetically Modified
Food
In a paper submitted to the June 21-2 meeting of the WTO’s Committee on
sanitary and phytosanitary measures, the US government has complained about the growing
number of countries which have introduced labelling requirements or other regulation to
inform consumers when food is genetically modified.
The US does not have labelling requirements and has argued that the EU’s labelling
requirements are not scientifically based and are a potential barrier to trade. However so
far the US has not lodged a formal complaint under the WTO disputes process (Bureau of
National Affairs, Washington).
As noted in AFTINET Bulletin 5, the US government has
also exerted pressure on the Australian government not to introduce labelling. This has
influenced Australian government policy, although surveys show there is majority consumer
support for labelling.
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5. British Survey shows support for local regulation of trade
and of Transnational Corporations (TNCs)
In February this year the British Ecologist Magazine commissioned the MORI
company to do an opinion poll of a representative sample of 928 adults on trade and TNCs.
The poll found overwhelming support for the right of governments to regulate trade and
TNCs in the public interest.
The poll found that only 12% supported the principle advocated by the WTO of
"national treatment" for TNCs which forbids governments from having policies
which favour local companies over TNCs. Furthermore, 90% supported the right of national
governments to regulate TNC conduct on the environment, employment conditions and human
health standards, and 89% supported the right of governments to restrict the import of
goods which may be damaging to human health.
This shows public support for the precautionary principle which is recognised in
environmental law and which enables governments to make decisions on potentially dangerous
products before actual harm or death is caused. This support may be stronger in Britain
because of the experience of the contamination British beef by mad cow disease, when there
were deaths for several years before authorities agreed to act.
These last two areas of government regulation have also been challenged by WTO disputes
process decisions which have defined environment and health and safety regulations as
barriers to trade, and have undermined the precautionary principle .
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6. Coming Events
a) Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt Vigil
Sunday July 23rd, 1-3 pm, Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney
Part of the international campaign which is urging the G8 summit meeting in Tokyo of
the world’s richest governments to take real and immediate action on debt relief for
the poorest countries.
b) AFTINET/ AID/WATCH/ NUS Seminar on Global Environment
Campaigns
Monday 24 July, 6pm - Level 5, Wentworth Bldg, Sydney University, City Rd, Darlington.
Jim Green, Nuclear Physicist, Jabilluka and Lucas Heights campaigns
Rayyar Farhat, Committee against Genetically Modified Food, GMO
campaigns
c) Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union Rally for Fair
Trade
11am Wednesday July 26, Archibald Fountain, Hyde Park, Sydney.
The focus of this rally is to urge the state government to support labour rights as
part of the framework of the WTO, and to adopt local industry development policies for
employment in NSW through apprenticeship training programs and the purchase of local
products by government agencies .
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