Brussels, 01/08/2008 (Agence Europe) - Outraged but not surprised at the failure of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Round trade talks, development NGOs in the Belgian CNCD 11.11.11 umbrella group say that the world's poorest countries are once again stuffing for the turkey.
In a press release published on 30 July 2008, they point out the lack of political will, the United States refusing any agreement on cutting cotton subsidies that keep West Africa poor and the European Union that stood out by its lack of unity with the French Presidency being particularly active in making sure there would be no removal of export farm subsidies despite this making rural populations in poor countries even poorer.
CNCD 11.11.11 criticises industrialised countries for having a very short memory and forgetting that their industrialisation had been carried out on the basis of important tariff barriers protecting their fledgling industries. The NGOs deplore that the least advanced countries are again faced with the promise of duty-free access to the industrialised countries for 97% of their export products evaporate before their very eyes and call for the trading powers to finally understand the nature of the challenges faced by the poorest developing countries in order for the poorest countries to finally be able to receive special, differentiated treatment worthy of the name. (A.N. /transl fl)