Two years after the "Battle of Seattle", the World Trade Organisation (WTO) held their big meeting in Qatar on 9-13 November. By retreating to an isolated Persian Gulf dictatorship the WTO hoped to shut out public participation and scrutiny, and to hide its neo-liberal agenda from the massive global opposition. However, protests took place against the WTO and the global economic system in cities and countries around the world. Read more.

The pressure for a successful round following the Seattle, 1999 debacle has forced all sides to agree to terms they may not have otherwise. In the final agreement, the European Union reluctantly agreed to a concession that will "phase out" subsidies to farmers, while many delegates from developing nations argued that the cards are still unfairly stacked against them. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick celebrated, saying: "Today the members of the WTO have sent a powerful signal to the world. We have removed the stain of Seattle."

Developing nations did win a major victory regarding patenting laws (mp3). The new TRIPS Agreement (pdf), grants nations the right to produce generic medication in case of national health crises. Particularly in Africa, where the AIDS epidemic has spread to over 25% of the African population, this agreement marks a major victory. It will reduce the cost of AIDS medication from $10,000 per year, per person to a mere $250 per year, per person, causing a severe blow to pharmaceutical corporations.

However, activists and NGO representatives maintain that the undemocratic process (mp3) and underlying premise of the WTO continues to be a major obstacle in developing truly global and sustainable economic progress.