Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations<\/p>\n
Reuters
\nCaracas<\/p>\n
Venezuela declared war on Friday against what it called an unfair
\nworld trade system and urged developing nations not to subscribe
\nto any new agreements at upcoming global trade talks next week.<\/p>\n
The world's No. 5 oil exporter made clear it would take an
\naggressive stance at Sept. 10-14 World Trade Organization (WTO)
\nnegotiations in Cancun, Mexico, which aim to lower barriers to
\nworld trade.<\/p>\n
Venezuela's chief trade negotiator Victor Alvarez said the
\nworld's poorest countries had only a tiny share of world exports,
\nwhich were hogged by rich nations: "It's clear who are the
\nwinners and losers of today's world trade system."<\/p>\n
"We'll be taking the fight to inside the WTO," he said.<\/p>\n
Alvarez said President Hugo Chavez's left-wing government
\nwould not negotiate over its demand, shared with other developing
\ncountries, that rich industrialized nations end "ruinous
\nsubsidies" for their farm products.<\/p>\n
Challenging what he called the "pro-market fundamentalism" of
\nthe United States and other rich nations, he insisted on the
\nright of Third World states to intervene heavily in their
\neconomies to promote development and fight poverty.<\/p>\n
"Venezuela is going to propose that no new commitments be
\nadopted (at the Cancun talks)," Alvarez said.<\/p>\n
"It makes no sense for countries like ours to add new points
\nto the WTO agenda when there's such a long list of issues that
\nhaven't been satisfied," he added.<\/p>\n
Venezuela's apparent spoiling strategy flew in the face of
\nurgent calls from the United States and Europe for concrete
\nagreements during the Cancun meeting.<\/p>\n
It also reflected repeated verbal attacks by populist former
\nparatrooper Chavez against world bodies like the WTO, the
\nInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.<\/p>\n
The Venezuelan leader, who is accused by his foes of trying to
\nintroduce Cuba-style communism at home, has pilloried these
\norganizations as "institutions created by empires to continue
\ndominating the world".<\/p>\n
Alvarez said Venezuela's position was shared by major
\ndeveloping nations like Brazil and India. But it seemed to echo
\nviews expressed by Cuban President Fidel Castro, a friend and
\nideological ally of the Venezuelan president.<\/p>\n
Alvarez presented a 10-point list dismissing free trade
\ndemands by industrialized nations.<\/p>\n
For example, he rejected calls for transnational companies to
\nbe given equal treatment with national firms in bidding for state
\ncontracts.<\/p>\n
"We're not going to negotiate our government purchases," he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/say-no-at-wto-venezuela-tells-developing-nations-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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