wtf, WTO?

The upcoming WTO meet in Hong Kong is set to be a monumental moment for developed world leaders to lift millions in developing countries out of poverty.

So far, progress has not been good: the EU's impressive proposal to cut EU farm subsidies by almost half has been met with acrimony from French farmers, who are proving to have quite a hold over Chiraq in the wake of racial riots just weeks before.

I feel so.. exasperated. This is a really important opportunity for the major trade blocs - EU, US, Japan - to make good with trade reform to do some kickAAS good for developing world agriculture.

In fact, it's probably greater access of agriculture to overseas markets that would be worth more to regions like Africa, than the doubling of aid and increased debt relief agreed by the G8 nations.

But of course politicians like to look like heroes when they talk about debt cancellation. So generous.

Still, I'm glad for folks like Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner and Rob Portman, US trade rep - who are showing good value on (respectively) advocating agri subsidy cuts, and emphasising the importance of breaking through the agri deadlock in order for talks to progress on other issues.

For the moment, to quote Oxfam's Phil Bloomer, "It's outrageous that Europe is trying to blame developing countries for the impasse when all they are doing is standing firm on essential reforms they were promised four years ago."

The thing with trade justice is, rich world leaders need to see that getting rid of subsidies isn't just being magnanimous to developing countries: it is really in their own interests when resources - like the billions in subsidies (30% of OECD agri spending!) - can be freed up for more productive uses where there is comparative advantage.

Also! It's just silly to spend so much on an industry that would thrive so much better in more suitable climates, creating loads of jobs at the same time. I leave you with a great para from Guardian's fair trade special report:

The trouble with trade talks is they rarely make headlines, except when there is a crisis. Many people find the subject tedious and complex. They should not. The issue is simple: it is immoral, and economic madness, to give (as the US does) huge subsidies to farmers to grow cotton, a labour intensive activity that could generate millions of jobs in Africa; also to grow sugar beet in Europe rather than in more favourable climates; and for Europe to subsidise cows by over $2 a day - a larger sum than half the world's human population lives on.

Check out also:

The Free Trade myth - from maketradefair.com

Guardian's collection of special reports on fair trade

Technorati: WTO, agriculture, trade, trade justice