WTO should be disbanded, international law respected, and genetically engineered
Joan Russow | 25.11.2006 18:08 | Bio-technology | Globalisation | Other Press | World
The poor Canadian Canola industry is lamenting discriminatory tariffs and anticipating correction at the WTO Hong Kong meeting. If the WTO had not intervened in propping up GE food and crop industry, as it has recently done in the decision against the European Unions’ opposition to Canola, genetically engineered foods and crops would have been banned years ago .
WTO should be disbanded, international law respected, and genetically engineered foods and crops, including canola, banned.
Joan Russow
The Poor Canadian Canola industry is lamenting the fact that there are higher tariffs and that they “are specifically seeking an end to the discriminatory tariffs on canola relative to other seeds, oils and fats; parity between canola seed and canola oil tariffs; and the elimination of trade distorting subsidies” ( press release November 21 2005).
They are anxiously waiting the up-coming meeting in Hong Kong, hoping that their woes will be addressed.
The international trade regimes such as the WTO. FTA NAFTA, CAFTA have been discredited for undermining years of public trust international instruments protecting environment, and guaranteeing labour and human rights.
Unfortunately, states have refused to sign, ratify international treaties, conventions, and covenants or to enact the necessary legislation and programs for the implementation of international law related to protecting the environment, guaranteeing human rights including civil and political rights, social and economic and cultural rights, and labour rights.
While States have refused to recognize the jurisdiction and decisions of the international courts, such as the International Court of Justice, states have considered rulings by trade tribunals which undermine public trust international law, to have more credibility.
At the upcoming meeting in Hong Kong, the states should finally recognize that the WTO, and its regional trade agreements, have been detrimental to the global commons, and to international law, and finally disband the WTO and embark on the full implementation of public trust International law.
If the WTO had not intervened in propping up GE food industry, as it has recently done in the decision against the European Unions’ opposition to Canola, genetically engineered foods and crops would have been banned years ago .
There would have been a ban because the tampering with the global food supply, the intimidating of states through giving developing states the choice between accepting genetically engineered foods and crops or starving, and the setting up of self serving trade tribunals would have been deemed contrary to the international rule of law.
Joan Russow
The Poor Canadian Canola industry is lamenting the fact that there are higher tariffs and that they “are specifically seeking an end to the discriminatory tariffs on canola relative to other seeds, oils and fats; parity between canola seed and canola oil tariffs; and the elimination of trade distorting subsidies” ( press release November 21 2005).
They are anxiously waiting the up-coming meeting in Hong Kong, hoping that their woes will be addressed.
The international trade regimes such as the WTO. FTA NAFTA, CAFTA have been discredited for undermining years of public trust international instruments protecting environment, and guaranteeing labour and human rights.
Unfortunately, states have refused to sign, ratify international treaties, conventions, and covenants or to enact the necessary legislation and programs for the implementation of international law related to protecting the environment, guaranteeing human rights including civil and political rights, social and economic and cultural rights, and labour rights.
While States have refused to recognize the jurisdiction and decisions of the international courts, such as the International Court of Justice, states have considered rulings by trade tribunals which undermine public trust international law, to have more credibility.
At the upcoming meeting in Hong Kong, the states should finally recognize that the WTO, and its regional trade agreements, have been detrimental to the global commons, and to international law, and finally disband the WTO and embark on the full implementation of public trust International law.
If the WTO had not intervened in propping up GE food industry, as it has recently done in the decision against the European Unions’ opposition to Canola, genetically engineered foods and crops would have been banned years ago .
There would have been a ban because the tampering with the global food supply, the intimidating of states through giving developing states the choice between accepting genetically engineered foods and crops or starving, and the setting up of self serving trade tribunals would have been deemed contrary to the international rule of law.
Joan Russow
e-mail:
j.russow@shawlink.ca