Negative Aspects of the World Trade Organization

In theory, the WTO merely deals with governments. In practice, however, multi-national corporations have a large, often invisible presence. Pharmaceutical companies drove the dialogue on intellectual property rights, namely patents, and even drafted the agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs).[7] This agreement increased corporate control at harmed millions of lives in underdeveloped countries. In fact, of the 650 “NGOs” listed to attend the Qatar ministerial meeting, it was said that at least 240 of them were in fact industry representatives, including the American Sugar Alliance, the United Egg Producers Association, and the Motion Picture Association.[8] The WTO lacks any rules that dictate the role of corporate lobbying.

In the words of Ralph Nadar, the WTO deals with “trade agreements that don’t stick to trade… They subordinate environmental and labor issues to the imperatives; the supremacy of international commerce.[9]” Fortunately there is a movement afoot to change the way that the WTO works. Enormous protests in Seattle during the 1999 Ministerial Conference brought a halt to the meeting. In 2001 the WTO had to go to Qatar, a country that lacks some freedom of speech rights. In 2003 and 2005 conferences met thousands of activists in protests. There are also countless organizations, serving to protect things like the environment or basic human rights, which stand firmly against positions the WTO has taken. These groups have pressured their governments to restrain from selling off the public interest in the name of corporate trade rules.

The WTO is an unfair system with flawed views and actions. Yet in this era of globalization it is a necessary organization. What must happen is a change in the way agreements are made, and there must be less attention to corporate agendas, and more attention to national and local interest. Regardless of their intentions, the WTO is harming millions across the globe. Until something changes, the gap between rich and poor will likely continue to grow, and the progress of poorer nations will be significantly slowed.

Works Cited

“CAFOD rough guide to WTO.” Miscellaneous factZ – The online home of Rufus Pollock. 19 May 2009 .

“Public Citizen | WTO and the Environment, Health and Safety – WTO and Environment, Health & Safety.” Public Citizen | Welcome. 19 May 2009 .

Who Controls the World?: a field guide to activism in the age of globalism. 19 May 2009 .

“WTO | 10 misunderstandings – menu.” WTO | Welcome to the WTO website. 19 May 2009 .

“YouTube – PovertyIsPolitical’s Channel.” YouTube – Broadcast Yourself. 19 May 2009 .

[1] http://www.rufuspollock.org/wto/cache/CAFOD_rough_guide_to_WTO.html

[2] http://www.citizen.org/trade/wto/ENVIRONMENT/

[3] http://www.citizen.org/trade/wto/ENVIRONMENT/

[4] http://www.rufuspollock.org/wto/cache/CAFOD_rough_guide_to_WTO.html

[5] http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/10mis_e/10m00_e.htm

[6] http://www.rufuspollock.org/wto/cache/CAFOD_rough_guide_to_WTO.html

[7] http://www.youtube.com/user/PovertyIsPolitical?gl=GB&hl=en-GB

[8] http://www.rufuspollock.org/wto/cache/CAFOD_rough_guide_to_WTO.html

[9] http://whocontrolstheworld.com/experts/ralph-nader-the-negative-effects-of-free-trade/.