Jubilee Plus - Supporting Economic Justice Campaigns Worldwide

Image Map
About Us
Jubilee Movement International
Finanance / Economics
World News
Media Centre
International Campaigns
Data Bank
Analysis
People
Opinion

Third World Network Accuses WTO of Discriminating Against Africa

8th October, 2001

The African Regional Secretariat of Third World Network (TWN) has pointed out that none of the trade arrangements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) favours African countries.

"Consensus reached at these meetings rather aim at limiting Africa's access to the markets of developed countries whilst opening the continent to goods and services of the developed countries".

Dr Yao Graham, Co-ordinator of the TWN, said this at a press conference to sensitise the public on Africa's position on the world trading systems.

It was also to discuss the draft ministerial declaration to be adopted by African Ministers at the forthcoming WTO trade ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar next month.

The draft is the first attempt by the chairman of the WTO General Council, aided by the organisation's Director-General, to get members to discuss a text that can be adopted.

Dr Graham said the draft declaration is disappointing, because it does not meet the demands of global civil society that has been asking for the correction of all the imbalances and problems generated by the present WTO systems and rules.

Dr Graham said the overwhelming views of civil society, as elaborated in joint statements such as: "No New Round, Turnaround", "WTO: Shrink or Sink" and "Our World Is Not For Sale", make it important for a fundamental review of the rules and operations of the WTO.

"The operations of WTO have caused such damaging problems as high prices for medicine, bio-piracy and threats to the livelihoods of small farmers and firms."

Dr. Abdul-Nash Issahaku, Programme Officer of the TWN, said due to lack of transparency in the dealings of the WTO, a section of Nigeria's Parliament is considering to back out of the organisation.

He said the Doha meeting must address the disastrous effects of the current existing agreements on African economies instead of the introduction of new issues and urged developed countries to fulfil their obligations under the existing agreements.