It is almost a case of “heads I will win, tails you will lose”. When the US has to pursue the case of labour standards in the WTO, it does not buy the arguments of developing countries that linking trade with labour standards would hamper their exports adversely. However, when it comes to ratifying Kyoto Protocol, President Bush subscribes to the same very argument.

The US did not ratify the original Kyoto Protocol last year, giving reasons that it would damage its economy. The much awaited US’s promise to come out with an alternative plan to address the problem of global warming, was finally announced by the US President. The new environmental initiative, called the “Clear Skies Initiative,” the White House hails it as a substantial addition to the Clean Air Act.

However, the environmental groups sharply criticised US President Bush’s climate policy, which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through voluntary action. In other words, the Bush administration has abandoned a mandatory system that would have resulted in real emissions reductions. The plan links a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions (a greenhouse gas linked to global warming) to growth in US GDP.

The plan in fact confuses the rest of the world by recommending a ceiling on greenhouse gas intensity. According to Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), such a ceiling will actually allow for continued increase in US greenhouse gas emissions. The 18% intensity reduction target does not even require slower emissions growth. Between 1990 and 2000, US greenhouse gas emissions increased by 14% while greenhouse gas intensity shrunk by 17.4%.

Former US Vice-President Al Gore also joined in the criticism. “Instead of accepting an accord endorsed by over 170 nations, President Bush has put forward a plan that falls short of the needs of both America and the world,” he said.

Moreover, Kyoto is a multilateral agreement. No country should have the right to tailor it according to its domestic needs. If the US can justify its act, then why not poor developing countries do the same with labour standards. They are being constantly kept on pressure by the US and other developed countries on the issue of linking trade with labour standards in WTO.

Pradeep S. Mehta, Editor

Global Research Programme on Linkages

CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment (CITEE) has released its latest research report on 'Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Trade and Development'. The study done by Dr. Eric Neumayer, of London School of Economics and Political Science, UK, has acquired greater significance in the light of the fact that one of the key issues which has been agreed for negotiation during the fourth Ministerial Conference of WTO in Doha is clarification of the relationship between WTO rules and specific trade obligations set out in MEAs.

The report has aspired to examine the role of technical and financial assistance as well as capacity building as an alternative to trade measures in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs).

The research findings draw lessons from various positive and negative measure used for compliance and enforcement and suggests how policy processes can be reformed and reorganised to address the negotiating requirements in dealing with such issues in future.

For more: www.cuts-international.org\multilateralenvironmental.htm

News Roundup

Burma to Allow ILO Office

Myanmar’s military government, in an abrupt reversal of its previous stance, has agreed to allow the ILO to set up a permanent liaison office in Rangoon aimed at eliminating the widespread practice of forced labour. The Burmese side has pledged to grant the liaison officer freedom to operate effectively. Burma in a bid to end years of economic isolation, outlawed forced labour in 2000. But a high-level ILO mission last autumn concluded that in areas under military control, especially along the Thai border, the army was still forcing villagers to provide food or work on infrastructure projects.

For more: www.ilo.org

World Commission Urged to Expand Benefits of Globalisation

Leaders from North and South, meeting in the wake of the United Nations international conference on trade and aid in Monterrey, Mexico, urged the new ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation to seek ways of turning words into realities that would reduce poverty, expand economies and fight global uncertainty and despair.

At its first meeting, the 25-member World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, established by the ILO to promote dialogue on the global economy – heard appeals for action from its co-chairs, President Tarja Halonen of Finland and President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania.

For more: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/pr/2002/14.htm

Japan to Trade in Whale Meat with Norway

In defiance of an international ban on trade in whale products, the government of Japan announced in Tokyo that it intends to import Norwegian minke whale meat beginning as soon as April 2002. This commercial trade in whale products is the first in more than a decade, raising the fears of conservationist groups worldwide including the International Fund for Animal Welfare, who say this is Japan’s most aggressive move to date to revive the international trade in whale.

For More: http://www.ifaw.org/page.asp?unitid=533

Three Deadly Pesticides and Asbestos Targeted for Trade Controls

A UN committee of government-appointed experts has concluded that three widely used pesticides and all forms of asbestos should be added to an international list of chemicals subject to trade controls. The first up for action is monocrotophos. This insecticide is applied in many developing countries, particularly in Asia, to control insects and spider mites on cotton, citrus, rice, maize and other crops. It is actively traded and is manufactured by more than a dozen firms, almost all in Asia. The Committee has also launched the process for listing the related pesticides Granox TBC and Spinox T, a mixture of fungicides and the highly toxic insecticide Carbofuran.
The recommendation to add five remaining forms of asbestos to the PIC (prior informed consent) list (one is already listed) launches a process that will conclude in 2003. The Committee's review of asbestos was triggered by bans in Australia, Chile & the EU.

For more: http://www.unep.org/Documents/Default.asp?DocumentID=235&ArticleID=3017

Studies and Reports

Widespread Antibiotic Drug Use in US Aquaculture, New Report Finds

An estimated 204,000 to 433,000 pounds of antibiotics are used annually in the production of seafood sold in the US, according to a new report issued by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. This includes antibiotics from the same classes that doctors depend on for treating sick humans.

The report, “Antibiotic Drug Use in US Aquaculture,” by Dr. Charles Benbrook, found a remarkable lack of information about the amount of fish farm drug use in the US. There is no official reporting system of antibiotic use in aquaculture, despite recent scientific developments that increase the potency of these drugs.

For full report: www.iatp.org

Can Labor Standards Improve Under Globalization?

The Institute of International Economics, Washington, D.C. is soon going to publish its new research study titled “Can Labor Standards Improve Under Globalization?”. The study authored by Kimberly Ann Elliott and Richard B. Freeman of the institute, moves beyond the debate on the relative merits and risks of a social clause in trade agreements and focus on practical approaches for improving labor standards in a more integrated global economy. The authors examine both what is being done in these areas, and what more needs to be done to ensure that steady and tangible progress toward universal respect for core labor standards is made. While concluding that the ILO should have primary responsibility for labor standards, the book also suggests that the WTO should consider how to address egregious and willful violations of core labor standards if they are trade related

For more: http://www.iie.com/publications/pub.cfm?pub_id=338

Event Report

WTO and South Asia: Lessons and Strategies 9-10 March, 2002, New Delhi, India

A two-day event titled “WTO and South Asia: Lessons and Strategies” was organised by CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment under the SACSNITI (South Asian Civil Society Network on International Trade Issues) project at New Delhi on 9-10^th March 2002. Apart from India, the conference attracted speakers and participants from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and UN organisations. A host of issues including regional agreements, TRIPs, Services, Singapore issues etc. were discussed during the two day long event, spread over various sessions. Among the Speakers and participants, the noted ones were Dr. Saman Kelegama, Institute of Policy Studies, Sri Lanka, Mr Sharad Joshi, former Chairman of the Agricultural Task Force of the Govt of India, Mr Muchkund Dubey, former foreign secretary of India, Mr S N Menon, additional secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Research Director, Centre for Policy Studies, Bangladesh and Mr. Roger Finan, International Development Research Centre, Canada. CUTS Secretary General Pradeep S Mehta welcomed the participants and presented an overview of the Doha Declaration and hgihlighted a possible road map for the Network.

For More: http://www.cuts-international.org/news-cuts.htm - hour at the WTO

Events Announcement

Trade and Social Development: A Southern Viewpoint, Geneva, 1^st May 2002

CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE) is organising this event on Wednesday, the 1^st of May in Geneva during WTO’s Symposium on “Doha Development Agenda and Beyond”. The duration of the event will be two and half hours (from 9AM to 11.30AM) and it will take place at Room E, Centre William Rappard (WTO building), Geneva.

The Panel comprising of speakers: Muchkund Dubey, Beatrice Chaytor, Bob Baldwin and James Howard will debate various issues around the issue of employment, poverty and the WTO. To be moderated by Phil Evans, the panel will focus on the issue of South’s capacity to cope with various standards.

‘Linkages: How do we Bridge the Gap?’ Brussels, 21 May, 2002

On 21st May, 2002, CUTS-CITEE will be organising a dialogue on ‘Linkages: How do we Bridge the Gap?’ which will look at issues of trade and labour standards. This event will be held at Brussels and will start at 0900 hrs. We invite you to participate in this open meeting and enrich the discussions.

Venue: Hotel Dorient Brussels, Boulevard Charlemagne 11-19, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Ph: +32 2 285 41 86 (D), +32 22 31 09 09 Fax: +32 22 30 3371

Contact: Sandeep Singh, cuts@cuts.org

Scoping Workshop on WTO Issues, Brussels, 21-22 May 2002

Consequent to an agreement between the European Union and the Government of India, CUTS-CITEE is pursuing the establishment of a network of Think Tanks in EU and India to do joint work on issues surrounding the World Trade Organisation. Briefly the work will encompass joint research, dialogue, training and information dissemination. It is named as EU-India Network on Trade and Development (EINTAD). The University of Sussex, UK has agreed in principle to be our lead European partner. This meeting is by invitation and interested persons are requested to contact us.

Venue: Hotel Dorient Brussels, Boulevard Charlemagne 11-19, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium Ph: +32 2 285 41 86 (D), +32 22 31 09 09 Fax: +32 22 30 3371 Email: info@dorintbru.be Contact: Mr Bipul Chatterji, cuts@cuts.org

About ‘The CUTS-CITEE Linkages Update’

This is a strictly non-commercial and educational service for non-profit organisations and individuals. For subscription please write to:

CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment (CUTS-CITEE)

D-217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur 302016, India.

Ph: 91.141.2282821, Fax: 91.141.2207486/2203998

E-mail: cutsjpr@sancharnet.in / citee@sancharnet.in

CONTACT US

CUTS Centre For International Trade, Economics & Environment (CITEE)

D–217, Bhaskar Marg, Bani Park,

Jaipur 302 016, India,

Ph: +91(0)141-228 2821-3

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Email: cuts@cuts.org

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