FW: [wto-info] Mandelson: Over the Top in DC Speech

Interesting comments by Mandelson...

 

-----Original Message-----
From: mritchie@iatp.org [mailto:mritchie@iatp.org]
Sent: mercredi 14 septembre 2005 22:33
To: webjournalist@twnafrica.org
Subject: [wto-info] Mandelson: Over the Top in DC Speech

 

WTO Info <wto-info@lists.iatp.org> -- posted by mritchie@iatp.org

============================================================

 

 

Mandleson gave a speech at our National Press Club. He said some truly

astonishing things:

 

1. "Doha is a trans-atlantic business.... It used to be just US and EU"

making the decisions at WTO and then everyone else signed off. US and EU

must show leadership and come up with a proposal to present to the other

cos. "This is necessary, but not sufficient" "Thus, we must recognize

the role Brazil and India can play to show a more collective style of

leadership."

 

2. "We should rethink the North South divide given major new dividesin

the south..."

 

3. Developing country negotiators both demand and distrust US-EU

leadership. They urge us to come up with a deal, they ask us to go work

it out amongst ourselves, but then the same negotiators critcize us when

we show leadership.

 

4. In the course of this speech, Mandelson repeated the phrase:

"BACKWARD, INWARD, ISOLATIONIST, PROTECTIONIST, AND NATIONALIST"  7

times in describing: opponents of CAFTA, opponents of his agenda at WTO,

anyone in mid-tier develping countries who want to maintain high

tariffs, those who want scale back ambittions at WTO, critics of

progressive liberalization, etc. Referring to the majoirty in US polling

who opposed CAFTA he added NARROW MINDED, FEARFUL, PEOPLE WHO PUL A

BLANKET OVER THEIR HEADS AND EMERGE LATER AS IF IT WILL BE THE SAME and

as those with NO LONG TERM FUTURE. Regdarding the Democrats who voted

against CAFTA, as well as what Congress Daily reports below, he also

urged them to 'take a more honest view""  and the quote noted below was

actually much more snotty: Playing to the gallery, pandering isn't good

enough FOR RESPONSBILE POLITICIANS." Not very diplomatic!

 

5. US- EU ability to get WTO negots back on track are test of ability of

whether we can unite and cooperate in the face of terrorism; Ability to

have an ambitious outcome at Hong Kong WTO Ministerial is test of

ability of whether we can unite and cooperate in the face of terrorism;

various other seeming unr;ated items are also test of ability of whether

we can unite and cooperate in the face of terrorism.

 

The spin and mesage discipline shows he was once UK's Director of

Communications (ie White House press secretary equivilent) but what the

attack on Dems would seem to make less probable is that it was for

Blair, not Thatcher!

 

On "substance" - He talked a lot about how it had to be an ambitious

round. How weak kneeed fear of trade-related job loss and displacement

was leading to dangerous wave of protectionism wordwide even though all

agree that the only route to alleviate poverty is "progressive

liberalization. You can forget the idea that poor countries can develop

behind protections. (and now this is realy rich...) We must provide them

with the route we rich countries used in industrialization. WE SHOULDN'T

PULL THE LADDDER UP AND DENY OTHERS THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES."

 

A. SERVICES: "There are some effective campaigns in the US and EU for

service sector liberalization. I only ask that you speak wioth a louder

and more powerful voice..."  Unbelievable: he calls on corporations to

beat harder on the governments!

 

B. NAMA: Major left over business of UR was high tariffs in mid-level

countries.

 

C. Said various things on ag - I am about to forward a news story that

reports it pretty well

 

D. Admitted that for poorest WTO members, which he said was half of the

cos, gains from Round would be less than for middle income countrie and

thus the US would have to just suck it up and jpin EU in strategy of

buying developing countries agreement on Doha Round by offering major

"infrasturcture gains" (??) capacity building funding and also providing

real market access offers

 

 

And, if you did not have enuf, he closed by calling for urgent US-EU

propgress in reviving the talks in "the most democratic mechanisms of

international governance, the WTO."

 

Lori M. Wallach

Director

Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch

215 Pennsylvania Ave SE

Washington, DC  USA   20003

1-202-546-4996

1-202-547-7392 (fax)

www.tradewatch.org

 

>>> Eliza Brinkmeyer 9/14/2005 9:45:25 AM >>>

 

National Journal's CongressDailyAM

Issue date: Wednesday, September 14, 2005

 

Mandelson Disappointed By Dems' Stand On Trade

     European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Tuesday that

the opposition of Democrats to trade agreements has disappointed him and

he now fears Republicans are following their lead.

     It is rare for foreign officials to comment on domestic politics,

but Mandelson told a National Press Club luncheon that, "It's

disappointing to me to see so many friends that I have in the Democratic

Party turning their backs on free trade and now dragging the Republicans

behind them."

     Mandelson, a former Labor Party politician in Great Britain and an

architect of British Prime Minister Tony Blair's campaigns, added,

"Pandering to the gallery isn't good enough." But he added that, as a

former politician, "I understand what the ballot box can do to your

deeply held views."

     Mandelson repeated statements he has made for U.S.-E.U. cooperation

in the Doha round of trade talks and said worldwide economic fears

raised by Hurricane Katrina are another reason for the United States to

give a signal of economic leadership.

     Mandelson also called on middle-income countries to reduce their

tariffs on industrial products and services, but did not mention those

countries reducing agricultural tariffs, a key U.S. demand in the Doha

round.   

 

 

 

 

============================================================

View the ARCHIVES of this list at:

http://lists.iatp.org/listarchive/

 

For help with listserv SUBSCRIPTIONS visit:

http://lists.iatp.org/listarchive/subscriptions.cfm

 

Questions, comments, concerns? Email us: support@iatp.org

Mandelson 'illegal' trade move

In advice for a new report by the development charity ActionAid a lawyer in Matrix Chambers today warns that European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson is violating a legal duty to Africa by undermining alternatives to his trade plans which, critics fear, threaten the jobs of millions of poor people.

This deepens embarrassment for Mr Mandelson after leaked documents in May showed that he is seeking to exploit his close relationship with Tony Blair to persuade him to revise UK policy. In March the government had issued a statement questioning the speed at which African countries should open their markets to products from EU big business under proposed economic partnership agreements.

Now Kate Cook, a government lawyer before moving to Matrix Chambers, says Mr Mandelson’s uncompromising position on EPAs breaches treaty obligations to African, Caribbean and Pacific nations. The legal alert is signalled as Jack Straw today, with Britain holding the European presidency, chairs talks between EU foreign ministers at Coldra Woods, near Newport in Wales. The advice to ActionAid counsels that Mr Mandelson is violating a trade and development treaty made with ACP countries at Cotonou, in the West African state of Benin, which obliged the EU to consider alternatives to its plans.

This latest move will intensify pressure on Mr Mandelson to give 76 ACP nations – many of them among the poorest in the developing world – a choice over EU deals. More than 180 MPs have signed a Commons motion attacking EPAs and the cross-party international development committee expressed concern over the proposals. In addition, criticism has come from Mr Blair’s Commission for Africa, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, Botswana’s president Festus Mogae and Kenyan trade minister, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi.

And the EPAs controversy is widening as Britain, also presiding over the G8 group of the richest nations, faces rising heat to stop forcing developing countries to open their markets in the run-up to the World Trade Organisation ministerial summit in Hong Kong in December

ActionAid is concerned that Mr Mandelson will bully poor ACP countries into accepting EPAs through fear they will otherwise lose aid and access to European markets. Amid a warning that EPAs would risk the livelihoods of millions of people, the charity today launches a new report examining pro-development alternatives.

The report’s author, ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman, said: “Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder are letting him get away with it.

“But it is not too late for the EU to scrap plans to force open African markets and start proper discussions on a trade deal that puts poor people before big business.”

 

From: http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100112/mandelson_illegal_trade_move.html

FW: [stopepa] Mandelson 'illegal' trade move - media coverage to date

The Trade Escape: media coverage: updated 2^nd September 2005, 10.50am

 

BBC news online: 1 September 2005

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4203672.stm

Aid charity criticises Mandelson

EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson has been accused by charity ActionAid of breaking international law on trade agreements with poor countries.

 

It says poor countries might be forced into accepting economic partnership agreements (EPAs) through fear of losing access to European markets.

 

The international charity says the move could threaten the jobs of people in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

 

The accusations come prior to a new report by ActionAid, The Trade Escape.

 

'Rubbishing alternatives'

The charity's report examines pro-development alternatives to EPAs.

 

The report's author, ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman, said: "Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder are letting him get away with it.

 

"But it is not too late for the EU to scrap plans to force open African markets and start proper discussions on a trade deal that puts poor people before big business."

 

Evening Standard online: 1 September 2005

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWA54407041125505106A00?source=PA%20Feed

Aid charity accuses Mandelson
A charity has accused EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson of breaking international law over trade agreements with some of the poorest countries in the world.

 

ActionAid claims that Mr Mandelson is violating a trade and development treaty in a move which could threaten the jobs of millions of poor people in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

 

The organisation says it is concerned that poor countries in this area could be pressured into accepting economic partnership agreements (EPAs) through fear that otherwise they could lose access to European markets.

 

The claims come as ActionAid launches a new report, The Trade Escape, which examines pro-development alternatives to EPAs.

 

The report's author, ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman, said: "Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder are letting him get away with it.

 

"But it is not too late for the EU to scrap plans to force open African markets and start proper discussions on a trade deal that puts poor people before big business."

 

Morning Star: 1 September 2005

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index2.php/ex/examples

Mandelson plots to exploit Africa

ROGER BAGLEY

 

POVERTY charity ActionAid accused EU commissioner Peter Mandelson yesterday of plotting the imminent destruction of millions of jobs in Africa.

 

The charity warned in a new report that Mr Mandelson wants to flout international law and force poor African countries to open their markets to goods and services from EU countries.

 

This would lead to a flood of subsidised products from EU big business concerns, wrecking people's livelihoods in Africa. "The most unequal trade negotiations in history could produce the most disastrous results for development," the report insisted.

 

Mr Mandelson is breaching treaty obligations to Third World nations by setting out to torpedo suggested alternatives to his draconian trading regime, alleged top lawyer Kate Cook.

 

The charity also charged Mr Mandelson with double standards - imposing quotas on imports from China, while demanding free access to African markets for EU big business.

 

The famed evil genius of new Labour is seeking to exploit his close relationship with Prime Minister Tony Blair in order to persuade him to drop concerns about the rapid opening up of African economies to EU goods.

 

ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman warned: "Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder are letting him get away with it."

 

Mr Sharman added that it is still not too late to prevent Mr Mandelson's scheming and, instead, "start proper discussions on a trade deal that puts poor people before big business."

 

ActionAid spokesman Paul Collins accused Mr Mandelson of pursuing, "with some aggression," the imposition of economic partnership agreements with African countries.

 

The danger is that governments of poor countries will feel pressurised into agreements, frightened that, "if they do not sign up, they may lose EU aid or debt relief."

 

This, in turn, would result in decimation of particular industries or agricultural sectors such as sugar or tomatoes, warned Mr Collins.

 

ActionAid called for a renewed campaign to secure viable alternative options for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

 

Radically reformed agreements could ensure that these countries "would continue to enjoy preferential access to the European market, while maintaining the right to protect their industries from unfair competition," said the charity.

 

A Downing Street spokesman said yesterday that Mr Blair "fully supports" EU trade commissioner Mandelson in his attempts to resolve the dispute over import quotas on textile products from China.

 

Millions of Chinese-made garments from bras and underwear to pullovers are being stockpiled in customs warehouses.

 

The spokesman indicated that the dispute will be raised during talks when Mr Blair visits China next week, although he added that the EU commission was the "sole negotiator" in the trade dispute.

Interview with BBC Radio Scotland: 1 September 2005, 4.45pm

 

Liverpool Daily Post: 1 September 2005

 

Mandelson accused of breaking trade laws
A CHARITY has accused EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson of breaking international law over trade agreements with some of the poorest countries in the world.

 

ActionAid claims that Mr Mandelson is violating a trade and development treaty in a move which could threaten the jobs of millions of poor people in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

 

The organisation says it is concerned that poor countries could be pressured into accepting economic partnership agreements (EPAs).

 

The claims come as ActionAid launches a new report, The Trade Escape.

 

ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman, the report’s author, said "Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder are letting him get away with it .”

 

Politics.co.uk: 1 September 2005

http://www.politics.co.uk/news-in-brief/mandelsons-trade-plans-break-international-law-$15034624.htm

Mandelson's trade plans 'break international law'

01/09/2005

European Union trade commissioner Peter Mandelson could be breaking international law by undermining alternatives to his trade plans, experts have said.

Kate Cook, a former government lawyer who now works for Matrix Chambers, has said Mr Mandelson's uncompromising position could breach treaty obligations to African, Caribbean and Pacific nations.

The legal advice to charity ActionAid says the trade commissioner is violating a trade and development treaty made with these countries that obliged the EU to consider alternatives to its plans.

"Peter Mandelson is breaking international law by rubbishing alternatives to economic partnership agreements and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroder are letting him get away with it," said ActionAid trade policy officer Tom Sharman.

"But it is not too late for the EU to scrap plans to force open African markets and start proper discussions on a trade deal that puts poor people before big business."