WTO resolution

Salt shakers
November 1999

Model Resolution opposing the
anti-democratic structure and decisions of the WTO

WHEREAS, trade agreements should not undermine national laws that protect workers, the environment, community economies and public health; and
WHEREAS, trade disputes are resolved at the World Trade Organization (WTO) by non-elected corporate panels in an undemocratic process outside and above our Constitution and courts; and
WHEREAS, in all 100 cases, over the first four years at the WTO, decisions by non-elected corporate panels have favored corporations over labor, corporations over public health, and corporations over the environment such as:
• In January 1999, a nonelected WTO panel ruled that the European Union could no longer pay more for Caribbean bananas than Central American bananas. This arrangement had been the European Union's 20 year effort to redress its past history of exploitation of these former Caribbean colonies. The Caribbean nations control 3 percent of the worldwide banana production, the other 97 percent being under the direct corporate control of Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte. The WTO's decision will result in massive unemployment of over 200,000 workers in a region already suffering 40 percent unemployment.
• In 1997 the European Union filed against a Massachusetts law that sanctioned the undemocratic government of Burma. These sanctions prevent the use of taxpayers funds to purchase products from corporations doing business with Burma. Because the WTO prohibits sanctions many observers believe that this Massachusetts law will be overturned. This would be an astounding historical reversal of democratic rights: nine years ago the brutal apartheid government of South Africa was overturned as the result of similar sanctions. In the U.S. this effort was led by the African-American community and labor. If the WTO had been in place then, Nelson Mandela would still be in prison now.
• In 1998, a non-elected WTO panel ruled against the U.S. Endangered Species Act requirement that turtle excluder devices be installed on shrimp nets to prevent endangered sea turtles from being drowned. This law, hard fought for by thousands of environmental activists worldwide was effectively gutted by this non-elected WTO panel.
• In 1996, the European Union Parliament voted 366-0 to ban imports of U.S. hormone-treated beef into Europe citing citizens and scientists concerns that hormones used in beef production increase cancer rates.
• In 1998 a non-elected WTO panel ruled that the European Union must allow U.S. hormone treated beef into Europe. The European Parliament's right to limit the health risks to which their citizens are exposed was clearly denied by the non-elected WTO panel's ruling.
WHEREAS, the WTO has not only overturned federal laws protecting the public but undermines our sovereign right to ever again make such laws and;
THEREFORE, be it resolved that:
1. When the governments of the world meet in Seattle in November 1999 for the World Trade Organization Summit, we, the members of the international civil society, oppose any effort to expand the powers of the World Trade Organization, meaning that no new agenda items be negotiated and;
2. Governments review the undemocratic structure and decision-making of the WTO and mandate the enactment of a system that protects our sovereign right to make law.
For more information:
People for Fair Trade or www.seattlewto.org
WTO Host Committee (toll-free) 1-877-STOPWTO
People for Fair Trade
2343 NW 100th
Seattle, WA 98177 USA

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