WTO Strategy Meeting
 
When: Thursday, July 27 2006
 
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
 
Where: Lecture Hall, India International Centre Annexe, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi
 
Organised by: Indian Peoples Campaign against WTO
 
Dear Friends,
 
Some of you will remember that the Indian Peoples Campaign Against WTO (IPCAWTO) had reacted sharply to the 18 December 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration. We had warned on 19 December that 'far from redressing the asymmetries of the global trading system, the Doha round seems to be leading to another catastrophe for the developing world'. Six months later it is now clear that the resistance of some developing countries to avoid this catastrophe has landed the Doha Round in a crisis. The recent failure of the Mini-ministerial at Geneva (28-30 June 06) is indicative of the crisis of legitimacy of the WTO i.e. that deals can be pushed only through such illegal, secretive and closed-door meetings. Despite the failure of this meeting there are grave problems in all three principle areas of negotiation i.e.

agriculture, industrial tariffs (NAMA) and services. The major players in the WTO will now attempt to push a deal at the General Council Meetings on 27-28 July 06.
 
In agriculture critical issues include the formulae for tariff and subsidy cuts, limits for sensitive products and terms for special products and the special safeguard mechanism. On the area of industrial tariffs the 'Swiss' proposals on the table call for massive cuts, which will lead to de-industrialisation and loss of revenues for developing countries. In the area of services developing and least developed countries have been pushed against the wall with 22 aggressive plurilateral requests for opening their incipient services sectors to foreign competition. The Indian position on all these negotiating areas is cause for deep concern, Minister Kamal Nath's recent pro-farmer antics notwithstanding.
 
Reports indicate that India will actively participate in the forthcoming General Council meeting with the intention of concluding the Doha round by the year-end. Given the proposals on the table such an outcome will be detrimental to the people of the south.
 
The IPCAWTO would like to invite you to a half-day meeting to discuss the state of play in the negotiations and strategise on defending the national interest. Former Prime Minister VP Singh, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat and CPI General Secretary AB Bardhan have confirmed their participation at the meeting.
 
As an important activist in this campaign we hope you will be able to attend and contribute to the meeting. This meeting is open to all anti WTO movements, farmer unions, trade unions, women groups, tribal groups, NGOs and trade activists.
 
Please confirm your participation at the meeting at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or phone (0) 9833070803.
Look forward to meeting you.
 
Sincerely,
 
S. P. Shukla
Convenor
 
WTO Wirodhi   Bharatiya Jan Abhiyan

(Indian People’s   Campaign against WTO)

Mailing Address: 3260, Sector 'D', Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110 030, INDIA
Tel: +91-11-26897089; Email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it ;