Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations

Say no at WTO, Venezuela tells developing nations

Reuters
Caracas

Venezuela declared war on Friday against what it called an unfair
world trade system and urged developing nations not to subscribe
to any new agreements at upcoming global trade talks next week.

The world's No. 5 oil exporter made clear it would take an
aggressive stance at Sept. 10-14 World Trade Organization (WTO)
negotiations in Cancun, Mexico, which aim to lower barriers to
world trade.

Venezuela's chief trade negotiator Victor Alvarez said the
world's poorest countries had only a tiny share of world exports,
which were hogged by rich nations: "It's clear who are the
winners and losers of today's world trade system."

"We'll be taking the fight to inside the WTO," he said.

Alvarez said President Hugo Chavez's left-wing government
would not negotiate over its demand, shared with other developing
countries, that rich industrialized nations end "ruinous
subsidies" for their farm products.

Challenging what he called the "pro-market fundamentalism" of
the United States and other rich nations, he insisted on the
right of Third World states to intervene heavily in their
economies to promote development and fight poverty.

"Venezuela is going to propose that no new commitments be
adopted (at the Cancun talks)," Alvarez said.

"It makes no sense for countries like ours to add new points
to the WTO agenda when there's such a long list of issues that
haven't been satisfied," he added.

Venezuela's apparent spoiling strategy flew in the face of
urgent calls from the United States and Europe for concrete
agreements during the Cancun meeting.

It also reflected repeated verbal attacks by populist former
paratrooper Chavez against world bodies like the WTO, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

The Venezuelan leader, who is accused by his foes of trying to
introduce Cuba-style communism at home, has pilloried these
organizations as "institutions created by empires to continue
dominating the world".

Alvarez said Venezuela's position was shared by major
developing nations like Brazil and India. But it seemed to echo
views expressed by Cuban President Fidel Castro, a friend and
ideological ally of the Venezuelan president.

Alvarez presented a 10-point list dismissing free trade
demands by industrialized nations.

For example, he rejected calls for transnational companies to
be given equal treatment with national firms in bidding for state
contracts.

"We're not going to negotiate our government purchases," he
said.