LABOUR
Cosatu campaigns against WTO deal
Posted Wed, 12 Apr 2006
The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) was launching a "massive
campaign" against the World Trade Organisation's Non-Agricultural
Market Access (Nama) proposals, Cosatu said on Tuesday.
The trade union federation said it was also against the proposed
further liberalisation of services through WTO negotiations.
"Cosatu, and many other union federations and NGOs around the
world, see the proposed Nama agreement leading to a catastrophe,"
it said in a media statement.
"It is an agreement designed solely to benefit the rich and
powerful Northern nations, which will have devastating consequences
for the majority of the world's population in the poor Southern
nations."
Developed countries were expected to cut agricultural subsidies
and to open up their markets for developing countries.
"However, developed countries have failed to extend a hand of
solidarity to the poor."
The trade-off offered is that agricultural
subsidies in rich
countries would be reduced, in return for significant market
liberalisation in developing countries, particularly for industrial
products.
"Their current proposals could result in massive job loss and
de-industrialisation in South Africa, and many other developing
countries."
The cuts in subsidies were "extremely modest", Cosatu said,
which meant that small uncompetitive farmers would still be
subsidised.
"They have not offered adequate market access in agricultural
goods to developing countries and will still be able to block
significant agricultural products from these countries.
"At the same time they expect developing countries such as South
Africa, to make significant cuts into our... tariffs for
non-agricultural goods."
The proposed tariff cuts would harm South Africa's labour
intensive sectors, Cosatu said.
Actions taken by Cosatu on the issue included urgent letters to
President Thabo
Mbeki, his deputy and Trade and Industry Minister
Mandisi Mpahlwa "urging government to continue to work to
strengthen coalitions of the developing countries in opposition to
the proposals of developed countries on Nama and services, and to
continue to promote development".
Sapa
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