NP Fwd: WTO to shut down, refound under new charter

[Arne Herl�v Petersen]

Ah, that it were so well.
Unfortunately GATT has been defunct since 1994, and there is nothing
about disbanding on the official WTO website
http://www.wto.org



Doug Millison wrote:
> 
> >Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 06:40:54 -0400 (EDT)
> >From: World Trade Organisation Public Relations <communications at gatt.org>
> >Subject: WTO to shut down, refound under new charter
> >Sender: communications at gatt.org
> >Status:  U
> >
> >[NOTE: On May 21, information regarding the WTO's restructuring was
> >released prematurely at a special luncheon of CPA Australia, Sydney
> >(http://www.aapmedianet.com.au/scripts/DisplayRelease.dll?id=304601).
> >The early release of this information, which met with overwhelming
> >approval, has accelerated this announcement, originally scheduled for
> >next Friday.]
> >
> >May 23, 2002
> >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> >
> >WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WILL DISBAND, REFOUND UNDER NEW CHARTER
> >
> >After a protracted and detailed review of current trade policy and its
> >effects on developing countries, the World Trade Organization has
> >decided to effect a cessation of all operations, to be accomplished
> >over a period of four months, culminating in September. The WTO will
> >reintegrate as a new trade body whose charter will be to ensure that
> >trade benefits the poor.
> >
> >As of September, agreements reached under the WTO will be suspended
> >pending ratification by the new organization, tentatively referred to
> >as the Trade Regulation Organization. Many existing agreements are
> >likely to be re-ratified, but each will be subject to individual
> >review for compliance with the TRO's charter, which is based upon the
> >Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
> >
> >The restructuring has come in response to numerous studies
> >(http://www.gatt.org/trastat_e/) indicating that current trade
> >liberalisation rules and policies have led to increased poverty and
> >inequality, and have eroded democratic principles, with a
> >disproportionately large effect on the poorest countries.
> >
> >Under the restructuring, the GATS agreement will be scrapped entirely,
> >and a new agreement regulating services will be forged after an
> >assessment of the effects of past services liberalisation, and when
> >there has been adequate opportunity for governments and civil society
> >to analyse and debate new proposals.
> >
> >In addition, all aspects of TRIPS, TRIMS, AoA, and other agreements
> >will be reviewed with humanitarian and other considerations in mind,
> >and will be progressively replaced with corresponding versions under
> >the TRO.
> >
> >Proposals and resolutions for the foundation of the TRO will be
> >evaluated beginning in June according to their likelihood of
> >furthering the TRO charter. Specifically this will mean redressing the
> >imbalances of existing trade agreements; providing access for
> >developing countries to developed countriesí markets; assessing the
> >effects past trade liberalization and redressing problems where
> >possible; and developing an enforceable framework for special and
> >differential treatment guaranteeing that development policies are not
> >undermined by trade agreements.
> >
> >The immediate necessity, besides fixing core problems, will be to
> >build a new regime of trust among members (notably between HIC and LDC
> >members), with civil society organizations (NGOs), and with members of
> >the public. The core goal is to establish rules whose priority is to
> >benefit the poor, improve the environment, and strengthen democratic
> >principles--in a pragmatic and immediate rather than theoretical and
> >longterm sense.
> >
> >In order to provide greater access to the Least Developed Countries
> >who will most benefit from the existence of the TRO, the
> >organisation's headquarters will be moved from their current location
> >in Geneva to the capital of one of the LDCs. Proposals for final
> >location are currently being solicited.
> >
> >
> >CONTACTS:
> >
> >World Trade Organization Public Relations: communications at gatt.org
> >CPA Australia Public Relations: barbara.magee at cpaaustralia.com.au
> >
> >United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
> >http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
> >
> >Studies page: http://www.gatt.org/trastat_e/
> >
> >This release online: http://www.gatt.org/
> >
> >                             # 30 #