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WTO and Democracy?
NIGD News and Notes April 2005
In this WTO special:
1. Universal Rights and Democracy in Investments, Competition and Services
of the Global Economy
2. Trade War over GM Food: WTO as the Trojan Horse
3. Towards a Democratic Intellectual Property Regime
4. Undercurrents in World Trade
On 9-10 April, at the Fourth Finnish Social Forum, NIGD launches four
Discussion Papers on the WTO and its democracy deficit. What are the
main issues in trade policy today? What is the proactive trade
political agenda of civil society organisations? The English summaries
of the discussion papers are presented in this WTO special.
1. Universal Rights and Democracy in Investments, Competition and Services
of Global Economy
Ville-Veikko Hirvelä calls for space for democratic will-formulation for
the peoples of the world. One step in the direction of creating such a
space is to implement a regime of global taxation. In particular taxation
of financial transactions and ecological issues are of prime concern. In
his discussion paper, Ville-Veikko says that the peoples must be granted
the right to decide over their own living conditions. He explains how the
present political system does not allow for peoples to take equal part in
decisions on a global level. These decisions include issues regarding the
distribution or use of global resources. The conditions for the economy and
its profitability must be open and free for the peoples to decide over
through means of democratic mechanisms for decision making and
participation.
2. Trade War over GM Food: WTO as the Trojan Horse
Anastasia Laitila has written about the EU and US dispute on the import
restrictions on genetically modified foodstuff. The actual purpose is to
point out through case studies how MNCs and industries use the WTO as a
tool to promote and strengthen their own interests. On the other hand this
case is also a good example of how some countries promote trade
liberalization without always wanting it themselves. For example the EU has
been driving for more liberalisation through the WTO but is still trying to
restrict market access for foodstuff (such as hormone treated beef and
genetically modified organisms).
3. Towards a Democratic Intellectual Property Regime
Knowledge is the basis of all societies. Throughout history there have been
contradictory tendencies towards knowledge. On the one hand, there is the
democratic tradition where freedom and sharing are the main principles. On
the other hand, there is the tendency of monopolies. They have been
exercised by states, religious institutions and more recently corporations.
This model can be called feudal as it concentrates power and benefits to
few. The neo-liberal era in politics and economics has reinforced the
feudal tendencies in knowledge systems. Consequently, the set of
international agreements on intellectual property rights (IPR) have become
more important during the past decades.
Marko Ulvila calls for a policy change from a corporate innovation system
to a democratic innovation system in the fields that are essential to human
welfare and survival. These include food and nutrition, public health and
scientific knowledge. Immediate steps needed would be the discontinuation
of the TRIPS agreement, pursuing the proposed development agenda in the
World Intellectual Property Organisation, removal of patents on essential
drugs, removal of patentability of living organisms and the promotion of
open content, standards and access.
4. Undercurrents of World Trade
