Kommentar til Oxfam-rapport om internasjonal handel fra Martin Kohr, Third World Network
I en ny kampanje for rettferdig handel anklager den britiske organisasjonen Oxfam den rike verden for å rane den fattige verden for 100 milliarder dollar årlig gjennom misbruk og manipulering av reglene for verdenshandelen. - Rapporten tar til orde for økt liberalisering av verdenshandelen, mener Food First, som hevder Oxfam undergraver sosiale bevegelser i Sør. For mer informasjon, se Nyheter og aktuelt 15.4.02: Strid om Oxfam-kampanje for rettferdig handel.
April 12th 2002
Dear friends,
I refer to the statement by Food First on the Oxfam report on trade. Third World Network was mentioned as one of the social movements and think tanks of the South which have been undermined by the Oxfam report. Several NGOs and people contacted us to ask if we have helped prepare the Food First statement or are associated with it. I would just like to clarify that TWN did not take part in preparation of the statement, nor did we discuss the Oxfam report with the writers of the statement before it was written. We support the fact that Food First of course has the right to form its opinion on the Oxfam report and we respect its views and comments.
On reading the Oxfam report, I find it very critical of the double standards of the developed countries. It is critical of how these countries have used the WTO, IMF and World Bank to pry open the agriculture, services, etc sectors of developing countries and destroyed livelihoods of farmers, etc. It also takes a critical view of liberalisation overall. I don't agree with some parts, for example I think it should have focused on the attempts by developed countries to further liberalise the South through the "Singapore issues", and I hope Oxfam will take this up as soon as possible when their campaign develops. Also, more market access for the South is certainly not a panacea as most countries can't take advantage of the claimed benefits; and expanded output of the same commodities will lead to more oversupply and falling prices. What is more important is production by local people and especially the small farms, small firms and cooperatives through local investment for the domestic market,
supplemented by exports where possible and where beneficial (and that is a very big "where"). However I would not categorise the Oxfam report as anti-South as it is very critical of the North and of many of the rules and processes of WTO. I intend to read the report more carefully (it was just released yesterday and I could not read it in close detail yet) and discuss/debate it with Oxfam people and others when the occasion arises.
with best wishes
Martin Khor (TWN)