Services Out of WTO, WTO out of Services!
No to GATS! No New Deal in Hong Kong!
In the run up to the December 2005 Ministerial Conference of the World
Trade Organization (WTO) in Hong Kong, trade negotiators are under intense
pressure by their respective governments to achieve a “successful” outcome
in the negotiations for the Doha Development Round, which includes
expansion of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). As WTO
leaders have tried to ensure by stealthily hatching the July Framework in
2004, services liberalization agreements should be accelerated and
national polices must be made with greater flexibility, such that more
markets are pried open to global trade not just in manufactured goods but
in services as well.
In truth, there is more than just the acceleration of services
liberalization in GATS. Contrary to how it is packaged, GATS is not the
trade agreement that it is but one-sided investment tool that gives global
corporations increasingly unhampered access to markets and human services,
and grants them as much if not even greater rights than citizens to
exploit such access. The WTO and the European Commission have said as
much, respectively flaunting GATS as the first multilateral agreement on
investments and principally as an instrument of business.
Practically all sectors, from water delivery and transportation to health
and education are considered services under GATS. Any barrier to global
capital in these sectors, including national safeguards against inhuman
working conditions or environmental degradation will be steadily
demolished. In fact, the very sovereign rights of nations to protect the
interests of citizens and uphold their welfare, above all, have no place
under the GATS framework.
Other agents of global corporate domination — the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund — have long imposed policy conditionalities
of liberalization, deregulation and privatization upon South countries,
with disastrous and fatal outcomes for entire populations and economies of
the developing world. Governments have been pressured to deregulate and
privatize public services, like water, power and health, depriving
millions of the basic requirements for a decent life. Poor farmers,
workers, women and children severely suffer the adverse impacts of
surrendering control of public services to private corporations.
GATS-WTO further limits developing countries’ chances of development and
survival. Water resources and services, recognized as crucial to
development, are particularly in danger of commodification and
privatization. European water giants have already been making large
investments in many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The
interests of firms like Suez, Vivendi and Thames Water are clearly behind
the European Union’s push for the inclusion of water services in the
coverage of GATS.
Experiences across South countries show that the basic rights of people,
especially the poor and the marginalized, are being progressively eroded
by governments surrendering such critical services sectors as health,
water, power, housing and education to private big business. Many
countries in the South have suffered outbreaks of cholera and other
gastro-intestinal diseases because safe water and basic health care are
increasingly being made accessible only to those with the capacity to pay.
GATS proponents deceitfully argue that governments can choose to keep
certain sectors closed and that privatization of basic social services is
not a GATS requirement. But GATS has very clear bias for private business
and non-transparent WTO mechanisms favor developed nations, and processes
allow them to apply intense pressure on developing countries.
The undersigned manifest our strong opposition to the GATS and the WTO.
From now to December, we will mobilize in various countries and express
our protests in various ways.
Signed:
GLOBAL
Jubilee South
ASIA/PACIFIC -Regional
– Jubilee South – APMDD
– Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives
– Focus on the Global South- India, Thailand, Philippines
– Via Campesina – Asia
– Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development
– Asian Migrants Center
– Migrant Forum in Asia
– NGO Forum on ADB
– Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Dev’t
– Documentation for Action Groups in Asia
– International Gender and Trade Network – Asia
– ISIS International – Manila
– South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication
AFRICA – Regional
– Africa Jubilee South
– AFRODAD
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARRIBEAN – Regional
– Jubileo Sur Americas
– Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI)
EUROPE
– Europe Solidaire Sans Frontieres (ESSF)
– Women in Development Europe
ARGENTINA
Dialogo 2000
AUSTRIA
Center for Encounter and Active Non-Violence
AZERBAIJAN
Center for Civic Initiatives
BANGLADESH
– Community Development Library
– Lokoj Institute
– Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labor Federation
– Bangladesh Sramajibi Kendra
– Karmojibi Nari
– Bangladesh Jatiya Sromik Jote
– Jatiya Krishok Jote
– BanglaPraxis
– Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
– VOICE
– WARBE
– Coastal Development Partnership
– Alliance of Food Sovereignty Campaigns
– Jagrata Juba Shangha (JJS)
BELGIUM
– 11.11.11 Coalition
– CADTM- Committee for the Abolition of the Third World Debt
– Africa-Europe Faith & Justice Network
– International Young Christian Workers (IYCW)
BRAZIL
Jubileo Sul – Brazil
CANADA
KAIROS : Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
CAMBODIA
– Womyn’s Agenda for Change
– Partnership for Development in Kampuchea
CAMEROON
Centre for Promotion of Social and Economic Alternatives
CHAD
Association Tchadienne por la Non-Violence (AINV)
COLOMBIA
– Mesa de Trabajo Mujeres y Economia
– Asociacion Nacional de Empleados de la Republica
– Marcha Mundial De Mujeres
COTE D’ IVOIRE
– Forum National Su La Dette Et La Pauvrete
CUBA
CIEM – Center for World Economy Studies
ECUADOR
– Accion Ecologica
– Alianza De Los Pueblos Del Sur Acreedores De Deuda Ecologica/ SPEDCA
– Comite Trabajadores Petroindustrial
– Comite de Empresa Trabajadores Electrica Loja
– CETAPE – Por La Unificacion Sindical
EL SALVADOR
Red Sinti Techan ( Maiz del Pueblo)
FINLAND
Network Institute for Global Democratisation- NIGD
FRANCE
Attac
GHANA
Centre for Budget Advocacy of ISODEC
HAITI
PAPDA
HONDURAS
Bloque Popular
HONG KONG
– HKPA- Hong Kong People’s Alliance on WTO
– Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions,
– Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee
– Justice & Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese
– Filipino Domestic Helpers General Union
– Zt Teng
– Global Network
– Union of Hong Kong Post Office Employees
– Government Mod 1 Staff General Union
– Association Of Government Technical And Survey Officers
– Association of Government Cartographic Staff
– Government Employees Solidarity Union
– Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Foremen Grade Staff General Union
– Hong Kong & Kowloon Life Guard’s Union
INDIA
– Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti
– National Confederation of Officers Associations of Central Public Sector Undertakings
– India Social Action Forum
– People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulation
– The Association of Karnataka Farmers
– Centre for Organization, Research and Education
– River Basin Movement
– Rural Volunteers Centre-Assam
– All Assam Krishak Mukti Sangram Samitee
– Bhumi Putra Bhumi Adhikar Suraksha Mancha-Assam
– Intercultural Resources and Lokayan
– Centre for Organisation Research & Education
– Delhi Forum
INDONESIA
– Koalisi Anti-Utang
– International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development
– KRUHA – People’s Coalition for the Rights to Water
– WALHI
– Working Group on Power Sector Restructuring
– Transportation and Delivery Workers Federation
– Migrant CARE
– Institute for Global Justice
– NADI
IRELAND
Presentation Justice Network
ITALY
Redazione A Sud
JAPAN
– Anti WTO / ATTAC
– Jubilee Kyushu on World Debt and Poverty
– Peace Boat
KENYA
Solidarity African Network Action
KOREA
– Korean People’s Action Against FTAs and WTO (KOPA)
– Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
– Federation of Korean Trade Unions
– Korean Public Services Union
– Korean Government Employees’ Union
– Korean Labour Social Network on Energy
– People’s Health Coalitions for Equitable Society
– Korean Catholic Farmers Movement
– Korean Education Solidarity
– Altogether
– International Center for Labor Solidarity (ICLS)
MALAYSIA
– Monitoring Sustainability of Globalization
– Friends of the Earth
MALDIVES
Society for Health Education
MEXICO
DECA Equipo Pueblo
MOZAMBIQUE
Economic Justice Coalition
NEPAL
– Rural Reconstruction Nepal
– All Nepal Women’s Association
– General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions
– Center for Human Rights and Democratic Studies
– Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists
NETHERLANDS
– Dutch GATS Platform
– Transnational Institute- TNI
NEW ZEALAND
– ARENA- Action Research and Education Network of Aotearoa
NICARAGUA
Centro De Informacion Y Servicios De Asesoria En Salud – CISAS
NORWAY
The IGNIS Foundation
PAKISTAN
– Muttehida Labour Federation
– People’s Rights Movement
– Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
– Anjuman Asia Awam (Association of Peoples of Asia Pakistan Chapter)
– Labor Party Pakistan
PANAMA
Pastoral Social-Laita
PARAGUAY
Foro Popular Por La Energia
PHILIPPINES
– Freedom from Debt Coalition
– Stop the New Round Coalition
– JPICC- Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines
– BMP- Filipino Workers Solidarity
– Railway Workers Union
– SANLAKAS
– KALAYAAN – Movement for People’s Freedom
– BISIG
– Kilusan Para Sa Pambansang Demokrasya
– Partido ng Manggagawa
– Makabayan – Pilipinas
– MAKALAYA
– Confederation of Independent Unions
– KPP- Philippine Housing Rights Coalition
– Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao
– WomanHealth Philippines
– Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement
– Kanlungan Center Foundation, Inc.
– Welga ng Kababaihan
– Tambuyog Development Center
– Medical Mission Sisters
– Alliance of Progressive Labor
PUERTO RICO
Puertoriquena Contra Al Alca
SENEGAL
– African Forum on Alternatives
– African Women Millennium Initiative on Poverty and Human Rights
SOUTH AFRICA
– SEATINI
– Alternative Information and Development Center (AIDC)
SRI LANKA
– Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reform
– National Fisheries Solidarity
– United Federation of Labor
– Lawyers for Human Rights and Development
– Center for Environmental Justice
– Sri Lanka Working Group on Trade & IFIs
– Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union
TAIWAN
Workers’ Democracy Association
TANZANIA
– Tanzania Gender Networking Program
– Tanzania Association of NGOs (TANGO)
THAILAND
– PSI Thai Affiliates Council
– Assembly of the Poor
– Labour Union of Metropolitan Waterworks Authority
– Labour Union of Provincial Waterworks Authority
– Labour Union of Electricity Generating Authority
– NHA Union
– Public Health
– Communication Worker’s Union
– Farmer’s Federations Association for Development
– MEAWU
– Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women
– People’s Coalition Party
UNITED KINGDOM
– World Development Movement
– Christian Aid
– Jubilee Scotland
USA
– Jubilee USA Network
– Center for Economic Justice.
– Development Gap
– 50 Years is Enough!
– Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
– Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative, Washington DC
– Africa Action
– Gender Action
ZIMBABWE
– Ecumenical Support Services
– Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development
– Southern Africa Peoples’ Solidarity Network
* Also adopted by the participants of the Conference on WTO, Development
and Migration, July 2005