by Joseph Purugganan
Research Associate
Focus on the Global South


Officals from Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture have expressed their elation over the outcome of the recent General Council (that in effect became a Ministerial Meeting) of the World Trade Organization in Geneva. The basis for their overwhelming joy is their belief that the framework agreement that came out of the meeting [1] Reflects the main demands of the Philippines in the negotiations; and [2] that the framework and consequently the negotiations for the conclusion of the so-called Doha Round will be beneficial to the Philippines.

Interestingly, the last time the heads of these two departments expressed this much happiness in relation to talks in the WTO was in September 2003, right after the historic (second) collapse of the WTO negotiations in Cancun, Mexico. Both Secretary Cito Lorenzo and Secretary Manuel Roxas II then called the collapse a positive development for the Philippines. Secretary Roxas expressed further the sentiment expressed by many developing countries, that

BY BASS UMALI

How can small fishers benefit from global trade? The WTO design offers no space for small producers. Small fishers are not represented, their interests are not articulated and in many cases misrepresented in trade negotiations. In fact, there is no substantial definition of the term "small fisher" in any WTO legal document. And governments do not necessarily represent small sectors' interests in trade negotiations.

Cristina A. Morales,Policy Analyst and Research Associate of Action for Economic Reforms

* This article was first published in the Yellow Pad column of BusinessWorld o­n 23 Febraury 2004.

The Philippines finds itself today in a conjuncture that makes it necessary to review the lessons that we were supposed to learn from the East Asian Crisis of 1997. With a politically charged environment as a backdrop, the Philippine economy has continued exhibiting disturbing traits and this has called the attention of not a few economic experts.

We Won in Cancun!!!Time to Work for Bigger Victories

The Fifth Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico closed without unity o­n a Ministerial Declaration. The collapse of the talks is victory for the national interest. As the Stop the New Round! Coalition (SNR!) emphasized during the launch of the SNR! Caravan and SNR! Cancun Monitor o­n 9 September, it is in the best interest of the Philippines that the framework in the Cancun draft ministerial declaration is not passed. The draft declaration called for further tariff cuts in agriculture, further tariff cuts and the binding of all non-agriculture products, a quick deadline for the conclusion of negotiations in services, and the possible commencement of negotiations o­n new issues. The government