Address to CARICOM Trade Ministers

ADDRESS TO CARICOM TRADE MINISTERS STRATEGIC MEETING FOR THE 5TH WTO MINISTERIAL MEETING CANCUN, MEXICO

INTRODUCTION

Thank you Madame Chairperson - CAFRA is a regional network of feminists, individual researchers, activists and women’s organisations. CAFRA is pleased to be associated with this dialogue in its capacity as Chairperson of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre.

In developing and implementing strategies, I would first of all like to assure CARICOM Trade Ministers of the pride with which Civil Society looked on, as CARICOM governments did not join the consensus in SEATTLE.

There is a tendency to look on the Caribbean as merely weak and vulnerable, focusing on a “half empty cup”. I would like CARICOM governments and Trade Ministers to focus on the “half full cup” instead. In these difficult and sensitive negotiations, CARICOM has VOTES – 15 VOTES. I would urge Ministers to recognize this strength and apply it in the negotiations. Madam Chairperson, Civil Society has prepared several Position Papers with the central message that current trade policies are hurting populations. Our recommendations are laid out in several documents, which are available to you in this room. I would highlight several key issues.

Specifically then:

• We urge Ministers to forge alliances with other like-minded countries to ensure that the “Singapore Issues” on the so-called “New Issues” are taken out of the WTO agenda. Clearly the WTO has been unsuccessful with dealing effectively with its current agenda. Adding the issues of investment, government procurement, competition policy and trade facilitation will not only overload the agenda, but also allow for greater invasion of the national policy space.

• Government procurement policies and procedures must remain in the domestic domain, determined by national interests, needs and priorities
  
  

AGRICULTURE

With relation to agriculture, there must be a return of national sovereignty to issues related to agriculture and people’s food sovereignty. Governments of developing countries should come together to find ways of resisting the completion of the negotiations on the agreement on agriculture, and listen to the demand of the people, farmers, women, indigenous people and fisher folk to take agriculture out of the WTO.

TRIPS – “Remove TRIPS from the WTO”

Uphold the compulsory licensing provision of the TRIPS Agreement Article (31), which permits countries to authorise the production of patented medicine without permission from the domestic market.

• Affirm that traditional knowledge be recognised as a category of intellectual property to present third parties with access to advanced technology from using, selling and importing traditional knowledge without prior informed consent and benefit sharing agreements.
  
  

SERVICES

Services essential to Social Reproduction be removed from GATS. Renegotiate the GATS with an emphasis on probation of essential services, the strategic importance of key service industries to development and greater clarity in the content of the agreement, ensuring that public control in the planning and management of essential services is maintained.

• A call for moratorium on the GATS negotiations until a development, gender and social impact assessment of GATS commitments is completed.

• We urge CARICOM governments and Trade Ministers to forge partnerships and linkages with Civil Society organisations, engaged in research, developing gender indicators, economic literacy and advocacy on the negative impacts on peoples lives. With our access to national, regional and international networks of people’s organisations, we have resources to bring to the table, and urge governments to allow us to support their efforts as we strive for Caribbean Development.
  
  
  
  

Nelcia Robinson
Coordinator
CAFRA

September 3, 2003