The Hindu March 18, 2005

Joint statement of civil society groups to G20 ministers at the occasion of the New Delhi ministerial conference

Draft for sign off by March 16th

Following up on our statement made at the Sao Paulo Ministerial Conference in 2004, we would first like to thank you for this second opportunity to present our views on some WTO issues to the G20. We very much value the openness of the G20 in discussing such critical issues with civil society.

We represent a group of NGOs and peoples’ movements including ActionAid, OXFAM, REBRIP (a Brazilian platform of NGOs and social movements), REMALC (a Mexican Network of NGOs), as well as CYSD, Ekta Parishad, Fair Trade Forum, GENE CAMPAIGN, IRFT, Cecoedecon and the Center for Environmental Concerns (Indian NGOs and movements), SAWTEE (Nepalese Network) and SDPI (A Pakistani NGO).

Representing a diversity of visions and proposals regarding the WTO, we would like to address the G20 Ministers on the following common points:

As we approach the most critical phase of the Doha Development Round, we want to recognise the achievements of the G20, which has contributed to strengthening the hands of developing countries and which has endeavored to prevent potentially damaging provisions from being adopted as part of the Doha round of negotiations at the WTO.

However, we are increasingly skeptical regarding the likelihood of achieving a genuine development round this year. The blueprint of the new agreement on agriculture seems to sanction a quasi status quo on market access into Northern countries and domestic support. In exchange, developing countries are being asked to open up their agricultural, services and industrial sectors. This would not be a fair deal.

We are particularly concerned about the impact that such an agreement could have on rural livelihoods and small farmers, food security, workers, women and indigenous people.

Because of the pressure put on all WTO members to agree to modalities by the Hong Kong Ministerial, there is a serious risk that the G20 will be put into an untenable position- as happened last July- where it must accept a mediocre agreement or risk being seen as responsible for another failed ministerial conference. We believe it is crucial for the G20 to avoid getting caught in such a trap.

For these reasons, we strongly urge you to:

Keep a strong position on all pillars of the agricultural negotiations by:

• Demandingan early date for the removal of all forms of export subsidies in developed countries. National reforms programs in developed countries should not impede the elimination of export subsidization.

• Calling for the elimination of all trade-distorting domestic support that leads to dumping, including a review of subsidies currently classified under the green box.

• Resisting any agreement which would demand tariff reduction commitments from developing countries while export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support are still in place,

• Strengthening the G20’s position on the issue of Special and Differential Treatment with regard to food security, livelihood security and development, including the market access formula, Special Products (emphasizing the need for an unrestricted and self-selected number of SPs) and a meaningful Special Safeguard Mechanism,

• Emphasizing the need for pro-development rules on intellectual property, Sanitary and Phytosanitary standards and Technical Barriers to Trade.

Resist tactics of rich countries, which demand major market access  commitments developing countries in NAMA and services in exchange for their so-called "concessions" on agriculture. Special and Differential treatment should be an integral part of all areas negotiated under the DDA.

Insist on a truly transparent and inclusive process on the road to Hong Kong, rather than succumb to the temptation of joining a small directory of countries such as the NG5.

We are deeply concerned that cooperation among developing countries is weakening rather than improving at a critical juncture of the negotiations. There is a widening rift between middle-income countries and poorer countries, which is being fuelled by the European Union and the United States. The G20 has a special responsibility to defend those developing countries, which have less power in the negotiations. Hence we would strongly encourage the G20 to build and agree common positions with other developing country groupings including the G33, the Africa Union, the ACPs and LDCs, in the run up to the Hong Kong ministerial, including on difficult issues such as preferences or differentiation.

The G20 is one of the most important forces for political change in the global economic governance. We strongly believe that such a major player should develop and maintain an open, fruitful and sustained dialogue with the civil society. Civil society groups can help mobilise the media and public opinion - north and south. As you know, this is a necessary condition for achieving positive change in northern agricultural policies and WTO rules. We are committed to continuing a dialogue with the G20 and other developing country groupings. We hope that G20 ministers and their advisers will be available to meet with civil society in the run-up to the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial.

Finally, during the present G20 meeting in New Delhi, some Indian civil society groups will be mobilising. We hope that G20 governments will listen to the demands from civil society of developing countries.

Once again we want to thank you for this opportunity to present our views. We look forward to working with you on these issues in the coming months.