Sat, Nov 17, 2001 page19

• Poor nations impress at Doha

  The performance of the developing countries against the giants of the WTO in fighting for their objectives won for them the respect of many observers

  • DPA
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  Once little more than passive bystanders in high-stake global trade negotiations, developing countries moved from backstage to spotlight at the World Trade Organization's six-day marathon in Doha.

  As weary ministers from over 140 nations ended their fierce battles over a range of complex farm, textile and environmental issues late Wednesday, participants and observers were unanimous: skilled envoys from big and small poor nations had done an excellent job in defending their interests.

  

  A general view taken on Wednesday shows the closing ceremony of the World Trade Organization (WTO) conference in Doha. The WTO ministers approved the launch of a new round of talks aimed at lowering trade barriers and sparking a recovery in a flattening world economy.

  PHOTO: AFP

  "Nobody could have imagined two years ago that developing countries would show so much expertise and leverage in trade negotiations," said EU Parliament member Glenys Kinnock.

  As the conference continued for an unscheduled sixth day, all eyes were on India's Commerce Minister Murasoli Maran whose last-minute objections to the new round kept negotiators' nose to the grindstone for many frantic hours. Maran won a separate WTO statement underlining that future negotiations on investment -- the reason for India's eleventh-hour objections -- hinged on an "explicit consensus" among members.

  Asked if the pressure from trading giants the US and Europe had been intimidating while India held up a final deal, Maran said with a laugh: "I intimidated them."

  He was not alone. African, Caribbean, Arab, Asia and Latin American envoys pushed relentlessly for their development imperatives to be included in the new global talks.

  A key victory for developing nations was won after Brazil and India secured WTO recognition of countries' right to override drug patents for reasons of public health.

  Malaysia and especially India led successful resistance from developing nations to EU calls for immediate negotiations on environmental, competition and investment issues.

  Farm-exporting Latin American states aligned with Canada and Australia played a key role in getting the EU to accept a phasing out of its controversial farm export subsidies even though Europeans insisted that this was not a pre-negotiating commitment.

  In a surprising eleventh-hour move, the 78 African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of nations used their collective weight to obtain a much-needed WTO waiver or exception to their Cotonou preferential trade pact with Europe.

  It was not easy and they were not universally successful. But after years of being shoved to the sidelines by the US and Europe, Doha certainly saw the coming-of-age of developing nations.

  "They did not get a perfect deal but it is a good one," said Kinnock.

  Poor nations were up against some real heavyweights. America's Trade Representative Robert Zoellick came to Doha determined not to give in on poor nations' calls for access to cheaper drugs and unwilling to tighten WTO rules which punish countries which dump low-cost goods on foreign markets.

  The US also opposed Indian and Pakistani calls for a speedier liberalization of textile quotas.

  EU trade chief Pascal Lamy arrived at the WTO with a pledge to go the "extra mile" to aid developing nations.

  But Europeans then pushed harder than ever to secure WTO agreement on starting negotiations on environmental issues, investments and competition -- all no-go areas for poor nations.

  Lamy also fought a fierce battle to preserve the EU's farm trading interests.

  European and US pressure may have worked in the bad old days. But this time around envoys from poorer nations proved to be formidable opponents.

  "Developing countries should be congratulated on resisting intimidation from the EU and the US," said European Parliament member Caroline Lucas.

  Hour after hour and day after day, envoys from the south showed unexpected nerves of steel in dealing with their richer and more powerful adversaries.

  "Developing country negotiators showed much better knowledge of trade issues -- and worked well together collectively," said Martin Khor of the non-governmental South Center.

  In contrast to the past, they defended not only their domestic interests but also stood firm on regional issues, said Khor.

  A wide array of pro-development activists and Western non-governmental organisations sought to boost poor countries' clout in Doha through constant -- although low-key -- anti-globalization demonstrations and persistent lobbying of reporters and delegates.

  "Their heart is certainly in the right place," said a senior Asian negotiator.

  But the message was clear: after their performance in Doha, newly-confident developing countries may need no more helping hands.
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