Consumers failed by WTO stalemate, says world body

Consumers International

World's consumers failed by WTO stalemate says world consumer body

Consumers International (CI) says that it is deeply disappointed at the stalemate in world trade talks at the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva this week. The meeting should have determined what would be on the table for discussion at the 6th WTO Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong this December.

Trade matters to everyone. We - the consumers - are the people who make markets work, we buy goods and services, yet our views aren't always listened to by businesses and governments. We need to put consumers at the heart of trade.

Emma Harrison, CI's Trade Campaign Manager, says: `Talking is the easy part but governments don't even seem to be talking, let alone taking the decisions to move the trade agenda forward. This is not a leisurely intellectual chess game on the Geneva lakeside. Real people suffer because of the prevailing stalemate.'

Consumers International says the top priorities for the Ministerial meeting (and therefore the Council meeting) are :
1. Scrapping all export subsidies on food products by 2010. Subsidies mean higher food prices in developed countries while undercutting small producers and consumers in developing countries.
2. Ensuring that basic services (water and electricity) reach all consumers. The WTO should rule that private sector companies must develop services to reach all consumers (known as universal service provision) and not cherry pick.
3. Resisting pressure from business to ban eco-labelling. Consumer information is not a barrier to trade, it's a basic right.
4. Implementing the provisions agreed at Doha in 2001, to enable developing countries to manufacture or import life-saving drugs at a affordable prices.

Emma Harrison says: `We are deeply disappointed that the WTO negotiations have not made the breakthrough decisions needed to ensure fair access to markets, reduce trade barriers and improve the lives of the poorest people. This really is the last chance for WTO governments to move matters forward so consumers can benefit'

Notes to editors
Consumers International is the confederation of consumer organisations worldwide, with 250 members in 115 countries.