Global civil society says no to binding rules on Trade Facilitation in WTO, FTAs and EPAs
Global civil society statement on TFA (English - pdf) - June 6, 2013
Dear Members of the World Trade Organization,
We, the undersigned civil society organizations, representing hundreds of millions of members across the globe, urge you to abandon the negotiations towards a binding agreement on Trade Facilitation in advance of the upcoming 9th Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Bali. Binding rules on Trade Facilitation should not be promoted either inside the WTO through the proposed Trade Facilitation (TF) agreement, nor through other avenues such as bilateral or regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) or Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). Developing countries should have the policy space to adopt, at their discretion, higher levels or standards and customs–related procedures as and when capacity exists to do so, taking into account their development context.
No empirical evidence of benefits to developing countries: Proponents of the TF negotiations have argued that developing countries would benefit even more than developed countries from an agreement on Trade Facilitation. However, there is little empirical basis for this claim. Quite the contrary, the proposed binding agreement on Trade Facilitation is a key demand of the developed countries towards the Ministerial, because it will serve the interests of their corporations.
Better call it an “import-facilitating agreement”: A binding agreement on Trade Facilitation in the WTO would require developing countries to implement a set of rules reflective of the current trade facilitation practices of the developed countries. They would not address the urgent need to expand the productive and export capacities of the developing countries. Thus, while imports into developing countries would be facilitated by the new rules, it is difficult to imagine how exports from developing countries could be similarly facilitated. In fact, Trade Facilitation rules in the WTO should be more accurately called “import-facilitating rules” for developing countries. Hence, a TF agreement would likely result in the further worsening of the trade balance in many developing countries, leading to balance of payment problems that often further increase indebtedness.
A corporate-driven model: The proposed agreement on Trade Facilitation follows a model of corporate-driven globalization focused on increasing the volume of trade, rather than achieving globally-shared development goals through rules that facilitate countries’ use of trade policy for their own development needs, and in accordance with their levels of development. In fact, a Trade Facilitation agreement at the WTO would create new markets – in customs and shipment processing for multinational corporations. At the same time, it would likely lead to the further privatization of ports, customs operations, and shipment processing, which leaves little or no space for local operators, and which has already led to a loss of jobs, downward pressure on wages, and erosion of labor rights for public workers in these sectors. A TF agreement would increase trade, which is a significant source of carbon emissions that contribute to global climate change.
Costs un-accounted for: While developed countries promote the proposed agreement as a “win-win,” most of the costs of a TF agreement to developing countries are rarely included in projected impact assessments. For example, there are significant implementation, regulatory, human resources, and infrastructure costs associated with the proposed Trade Facilitation agreement, many of which are recurring, and would be siphoned from national budgets, diverting available resources from development needs.
Loss of budget support for development priorities: A potential Trade Facilitation deal is also expected to lead to irreplaceable loss of tariff revenue. Compared to developed countries, the share of customs revenue in the total tax collection is much higher in developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Foregone tariff revenue would have serious implications for national budgetary support for key development issues such as education, health, and poverty reduction. Reducing national budget support for addressing the Millennium Development Goals can in no way be referred to as a pro-development outcome.
Encroaching upon national regulatory and policy space: In addition, the provisions of the proposed Trade Facilitation agreement, as they are being negotiated, would undermine the regulatory capacities of developing countries. The proposed rules would expand the opportunities of multinational corporations to lobby in national and local legislative processes. Furthermore, the rules that would be enforced through a TF agreement would provide ample grounds for challenging regulations, laws, and procedures in member states.
Eroding the rights of developing countries and LDCs: Further eroding any claim to benefits for developing countries is the fact that there remain significant imbalances and incoherence within the text being negotiated. The new Trade Facilitation rules, being pushed by developed countries, have advanced significantly, and are set in binding language. Negotiations on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, which are central to the original agreed Trade Facilitation negotiations mandate (2004), have been stalled by developed countries, and are currently framed in non-binding language.
The needs-assessment exercises of developing countries are likewise being utilized as a ‘compliance assessment’ tool in order to pressure developing countries into accepting the Trade Facilitation agreement rather than to encourage developed countries to increase their technical, and particularly financial assistance.
A WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement differs from unilateral and voluntary processes: Developing countries can benefit from more efficient and transparent trade procedures. But unilateral voluntary implementation of non-binding customs-related guidelines, and/or the Revised Kyoto Convention of the World Customs Organization, in accordance with national priorities and needs, is of a different nature and brings different implications compared to a binding TF agreement that could be enforced through the Dispute Settlement procedures of the WTO. Worse, the latter could lead to sectoral cross-retaliation among countries, the effects of which are expected to be more pernicious to the much smaller economies of developing countries and least developed countries.
What we need to see being advanced: Instead, any discussions at the WTO should focus on rectifying historical imbalances and asymmetries in the WTO, in order to provide more policy space for countries to implement solutions to the global economic crises. A starting point would be agreeing to the important proposal of the “G33”group of 46 developing countries to allow developing countries to promote domestic Food Security, and delivering on the LDC package at the upcoming Ministerial. In addition, a real advancement on the Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) and Implementation Agenda issues, long advocated for by developing countries, is long overdue. The WTO Turnaround Agenda of the Our World Is Not For Sale (OWINFS) network also provides an outline of such needed policy changes, which are essential to start the process of transforming the global trade system into one that works for sustainable and inclusive development for all.
Sincerely,
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| International and Regional Networks |
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| 1 | ACP Civil Society Forum | The Forum is a coalition of 80 not-for-profit organisations working on issues relating to ACP-EU development cooperation. It seeks to cater for the diverse range civil society development issues within the wide geographic coverage of the ACP group. |
| 2 | Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) | AEFJN is a Network present in all countries of Africa and most countries in Europe to promote fairer relations between Africa and Europe. AEFJN works on economic issues related to Africa in the European Union and International Organizations policies. |
| 3 | Africa Trade Network | The Political Economy unit (PECU) of TWN-Africa co-ordinates the Africa Trade Network which was established in 1998 by TWN-Africa, and has over 25 members from 15 countries in Africa. The ATN has observer status with the African Union, and has provided a means of increased interaction between civil society groups and African governments, including the annual Conference of African Ministers of Trade. |
| 4 | Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) | ANND is a regional network, working in 12 Arab countries with seven national networks (with an extended membership of 200 CSOs from different backgrounds) and 23 NGO members. |
| 5 | Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) | A regional migrant centre working in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region. |
| 6 | Asia Pacific Research Network (APRN) | APRN is a network of leading research NGOs in the Asia-Pacific. It is active in promoting exchange, coordination and capacity building support in research. |
| 7 | Asian Peasants Coalition (APC) | Represent more than 15 million rural members (e.g. landless peasants, peasant women, dalits, agricultural workers, fisherfolks, pastoralists, and rural youth) from 33 organizations from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka, struggling for genuine agrarian reform and people's food sovereignty. |
| 8 | Caribbean Dawn | A regional network of scholars and researchers who work on the issues of political economy, trade, sustainable development; sexual and reproductive health and rights; governance and women's equal participation in power and decision-making. |
| 9 | Civile d’Afrique Francophone (OSCAF) International | Siège Bénin - Un réseau International qui couvre plus d’une vingtaine de pays en Afrique et dont les membres travaillent sur les questions liées au commerce international, à l’investissement, à la responsabilité sociétale des entreprises et à l’efficacité du développement |
| 10 | Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) | Dawn is a network of feminist scholars, researchers and activists from the economic South working for economic and gender justice and sustainable and democratic development. |
| 11 | Dignity International | Dignity International’s vision is of a world in which everyone enjoys human rights and lives in dignity; free from fear, poverty and discrimination. Dignity International advocates with, connects, and supports the empowerment of deprived and struggling communities in claiming their human rights, and creating social justice around the world. |
| 12 | IBON International | IBON initiates and implements international programs, develops and hosts international networks, initiates and participates in international advocacy campaigns, and establishes regional and country offices. IBON strengthens links between local campaigns and advocacies to international initiatives. |
| 13 | International Grail Justice and Trade | A coalition of groups working for peace and justice in 20 countries worldwide. |
| 14 | International Presentation Association | The mission of IPA is to channel our resources so that we can speak and act in partnership with others for global justice. |
| 15 | International Women's Alliance (IWA) | Global alliance of anti-imperialist grassroots-based women’s organizations, institutions, alliances, networks and individuals committed to advancing national and social liberation. |
| 16 | LDC Watch | LDC Watch is a global alliance of national, regional and international civil society organisations (CSOs), networks and movements based in the LDCs. |
| 17 | Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) | PANG is a Pacific regional network promoting economic justice in globalisation with specific attention to accountability and transparency in economic and trade policy processes, Poverty eradication, Equitable development and sustainable livelihoods (opportunity, access, impact), Food sovereignty and environmental sustainability. |
| 18 | Pax Romana-The International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs (ICMICA/MIIC) | Global network of Catholic leaders committed to justice, peace and creation. |
| 19 | Plataforma Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Democracia y Desarrollo (PIDHDD), Americas | La PIDHDD es un actor político, conformado por Capítulos Nacionales que articulan organizaciones sociales e instituciones de la sociedad civil, que promueve la plena vigencia y realización de los derechos humanos; Actualmente, se cuenta con capítulos nacionales constituidos y en funcionamiento en 16 países del continente americano: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Dominicana, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haití, Guatemala, México, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay y Venezuela. |
| 20 | Réseau des plates formes nationales des ONG des pays de l'Afrique Centrale (REPONGAC) | Sur les questions de développement et les processus d'intégration régionale ce réseau regroupe les plates-formes nationales des ONG des pays suivants: Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, République du Congo, Gabon, République Centrafricaine, la RD Congo, Rwanda et Tchad. |
| 21 | The Southern Africa Development Community Council of Non Governmental Organizations (SADC-CNGO) | SADC-CNGO is the lead and membership based apex body of non-governmental organizations operating in all SADC Countries. |
| 22 | South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE) | An alliance to fight against poverty and injustice in South Asia comprising journalists, academics, trade unionists, human rights activists, NGOs and other civil society actors across the region. |
| 23 | Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI) | An African initiative to strengthen Africa's capacity to take a more effective part in the emerging global trading system and to better manage the process of Globalization. |
| National Organizations | Country |
24 | 11.11.11, Belgium | Belgium |
25 | 3rd ACP Civil Society Forum | Jamaica |
26 | 51% Coalition for Equality | Jamaica |
27 | Abibiman Foundation(AF) | Ghana |
28 | Action for Change and Progress in Africa | Kenya |
29 | Act Up-Paris | France |
30 | Agricultural Workers Union of TUC | Ghana |
31 | Alianza ONG | Dominican Republic |
32 | All Nepal Peasants Federation (ANPFa) | Nepal |
33 | Alliance Pour La Reconstruction Et Le Developpement Post-Conflit (ARDPC) | COTE D’IVOIRE |
34 | All Lanka Peasant's Front | Sri Lanka |
35 | Argentine Federation Of Commerce And Services Workers (FAECyS) | Argentina |
36 | Artisanal Mining African Network (AMAN) | Ghana |
37 | Association Commerciale, Agricole, Industriel et du Service - (ACAISA) | CAPE VERDE |
38 | Asociación de Iniciativas Populares Ditsö | Costa Rica |
39 | Asociación Nacional de Empresas Comercializadoras de Productores del Campo (ANEC) | Mexico |
40 | Asociacion Nacional De Industriales De Transformacion (ANIT) | Mexico |
41 | Attac | France |
42 | Attac Norway | Norway |
43 | Barbados Association of Non Governmental Organizations | Barbados |
44 | Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology | Belize |
45 | Berne Declaration | Switzerland |
46 | Bahrain Transparency Society (BTS) | Bahrain |
47 | Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (BKS) | India |
48 | Bia'lii, Consultancy and Research, AC (Mexico) | Mexico |
49 | Botswana Council of Non Governmental Organisations : BOCONGO | Botswana |
50 | Cacid-Reseau Enda Tiers Monde | Senegal |
51 | Campaign for a Life of Dignity for All (KAMP) | Philippines |
52 | Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal (CCJN) | Nepal |
53 | Central America Women's Network | UK |
54 | Central Unica de Trabajadores (CUT) | Colombia |
55 | Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence | Austria |
56 | Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) | Zambia |
57 | Centro de Estudios Sociales y Culturales | Mexico |
58 | Centre for Alternative Research and Studies (CARES) | Mauritius |
59 | CILONG - TCHAD | République du Tchad |
60 | Civil Society Bahamas | Bahamas |
61 | Civil Society Forum of Tonga (CSFT) | Tonga |
62 | Civil Society Movement of Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone |
63 | Civil Society Organization Network for Development (RESOCIDE) - Cadre de concertation des OSC pour le suivi du CSLP (CdC/CSLP) | BURKINA FASO |
64 | Civil society Plat-form “Action Développement et Intégration Régionale” "ADIR" | BURUNDI |
65 | Comhlámh | Ireland |
66 | Comité 1968 por las Libertades democráticas | Mexico |
67 | Comité du Forum Social Lémanique, Geneva | Switzerland |
68 | Comisión Nacional de Enlace (CNE) | Costa Rica |
69 | Concertation Nationale Des Organisations paysannes et des Producteurs (CNOP) | Gabon |
70 | Confederation of Labor and Allied Social Services (CLASS) | Philippines |
71 | Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) | South Africa |
72 | Conseil de Concertation des ONGs de Développement (CCOD) du Congo Brazzaville | République du Congo Brazzaville |
73 | Conseil des ONG AGREES DU CAMEROUN (CONGAC) | Cameroun |
74 | CONSEIL INTER ONG EN CENTRAFRIQUE (CIONGCA) | Central Africa Rep.: Modeste GONDA |
75 | Conseil National des ONG de Développement (CNONGD) | RD Congo |
76 | Consumer education trust | Uganda |
77 | Consumers Protection Association(CPA) | Lesotho |
78 | Cook Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (CIANGO) | Cook Islands |
79 | Coordination Southern Africa (KOSA e.V.) | Germany |
80 | Council for NGOs (CANGO) | Swaziland |
81 | Council of Canadians | Canada |
82 | Development Service Exchange (DSE) | Solomon Islands |
83 | Diverse Women for Diversity | India |
84 | Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmer’s Forum (ESAFF) | Zambia |
85 | Economic Justice Network of FOCCISA | South Africa |
86 | Economic News Africa (EcoNews Africa) | Kenya |
87 | Ecuador Decide Adhiere | Ecuador |
88 | El Sindicato de trabajadores del Instituto Nacional para el Desarrollo de Capacidades del Sector Rural (STINCA) | Mexico |
89 | EQUATIONS | India |
90 | Equity BD - Equity and Justice Working Group | Bangladesh |
91 | Fairwatch | Italy |
92 | Federation de Femmes Enterpreneurs et Affairs de la CEDEAO (FEFA) | GUINEA CONAKRY |
93 | Federación De Trabajadores Del Agua Potable Y Alcantarillado Del Perú (FENTAP) | Peru |
94 | Federacion Sindical Obrero Campesina De Quintana Roo | Mexico |
95 | First African Bicycle Information Organization ( FABIO) | Uganda |
96 | Foro Ciudadano de Participación por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos (FOCO) | Argentina |
97 | Fórum das Organizações Não Governamentais Angolanas – (FONGA) Forum of NGOs in Angola (FONGA) | Angola |
98 | Forum das Ong de São Tomé e principe (FONG-STP) | Sao Tomé & Principe |
99 | Forum des ONG pour le Développement Durable (FONGDD) | Eq. Guinea |
100 | Foundation for Research in Science Technology & Ecology | India |
101 | Foundation pour le Developpment au Sahel (FDS) | Mali |
102 | Friends of the earth | Ghana |
103 | Fronteras Comunes A.C. | Mexico |
104 | FSM Alliance of NGOs - FANGO | Micronesia |
105 | Governance Links Tanzania | Tanzania |
106 | Grassroots Organisations of Trinidad & Tobago (GOTT) | Trinidad & Tobago |
107 | Green Ghana Initiative(GGI) | Ghana |
108 | Groupe d'Action et de Reflexion sur l'Environnement et le Développement (GARED) | Togo |
109 | Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture et du Développement (GRAPAD) | BENIN REPUBLIC |
110 | Grupo Sin Cuenta (G50) | El Salvador. |
111 | Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) | Philippines |
112 | Initiative for Health & Equity in Society | India |
113 | Institute for Global Justice (IGJ) | Indonesia |
114 | Instituto Justiça Fiscal | Brazil |
115 | Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa (INEI) | GUINEA BISAU |
116 | Integrated Social Development Effort (ISDE) | Bangladesh |
117 | Inter Agency Group of Development Organizations (IAGDO) | Grenada |
118 | Iyanola (St.Lucia) Council for the Advancement of Rastafari Incorperated (I.C.A.R.) | St.Lucia |
119 | Jóvenes Frente Al G20 México | Mexico |
120 | Kalingo Carib Council | Dominica |
121 | Kenya Debt Relief Network (KENDREN) | Kenya |
122 | KILUSANG MAGBUBUKID NG PILIPINAS (KMP) | Philippines |
123 | Kiribati Association of Non-Governmental Organisation - KANGO | Kiribati |
124 | La Alianza Social Continental Capitulo Perú. | Peru |
125 | La Marcha Mundial de las Mujeres | Peru |
126 | Labour,Health and Human Rights Development Centre | Nigeria |
127 | Les Amis de la Terre-Togo | Togo |
128 | Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN) | Lesotho |
129 | Lismore Presentation Sisters | Australia |
130 | Melanesian NGO Centre for Leadership (MNCL) | Papua New Guinea |
131 | Malawi Economic Justice Network (National NGO platform) | Malawi |
132 | Marshall Islands Council of NGOs (MICNGOS) | Marshall Islands |
133 | Mujeres para el Diálogo, AC | Mexico |
134 | Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS) | Mauritius |
135 | Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations Forum Trust | Namibia |
136 | National Association Of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) | Nigeria |
137 | National Association of NGOs (NANGO) | Zimbabwe |
138 | National Council of NGOs | Kenya |
139 | National du Réseau des Ong de Développement et Associations de Défense des Droits de l'Homme et de la Démocratie (RODADDHD) | Niger |
140 | National Fisheries Solidarity Movement | Sri Lanka |
141 | National Forum for Mozambiquan NGOs and CBOs (TEIA) | Mozambique |
142 | Nauru Island Association of NGOs (NIANGO) | Nauru |
143 | Navdanya | India |
144 | Niue Island (Umbrella) Association of NGOs (NIUANGO) | Niue |
145 | Norwegian Trade Campaign | Norway |
146 | PANE & Cotonou Task Force | Ethiopia |
147 | Plateforme des Acteurs de la Société Civile au Bénin (PASCiB) |
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148 | Plate-forme des acteurs non étatiques pour le suivi de l'Accord de Cotonou au Sénégal | Senegal |
149 | Plate-Forme Nationale des Organisations de la Societe Civile de Madagascar | Madagascar |
150 | Policy Analysis and Research Institute of Lesotho (PARIL) | Lesotho |
151 | Port Louis Maritime Employees Association (PLMEA) | Mauritius |
152 | Presentation Congregation Queensland | Australia |
153 | Presentation Justice Network Ireland | Ireland |
154 | Programme de Plaidoyer Pour une Intégration Alternative (PPIA) | Haiti |
155 | Red Afrodescendientes | VENEZUELA |
156 | Red De Accion Ciudadana Frente Allibre Comercio E Inversion | El Salvador |
157 | Red Mexicana de Acción frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC) | Mexico |
158 | Red Nacional Género y Economía (REDGE) | Mexico |
159 | Resistance & Alternatives | Mauritius |
160 | Resistance and Alternatives to Globalization (RAG) | Indonesia |
161 | Roj Women's Association | UK |
162 | Roots for Equity | Pakistan |
163 | Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) | Nepal |
164 | Rwanda Civil Society Platform | Rwanda |
165 | Samoa Umbrella for Non Governmental Organisation (SUNGO) | Samoa |
166 | Serikat Perempuan Indonesia - Indonesian Women Union | Indonesia |
167 | Seychelles Civil Society Organisations (Liaison Unit of the non-governmental organisations of Seychelles (LUNGOS)) | Seychelles |
168 | Shirkat Gah | Pakistan |
169 | Siembra, AC | Mexico |
170 | SISTREN Theatre Collective | Jamaica |
171 | Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País.(Economic society of friends of the country) | Cuba |
172 | SOLIDARITÉ | France |
173 | South African NGO Council (SANGOCO) | South Africa |
174 | Stichting Projekta | Suriname |
175 | Tanzania Association of NGOs | Tanzania |
176 | Tchad Agir pour L'environnement (TCHAPE) | Chad |
177 | The Asia Foundation | Timor-Leste |
178 | The Association of Non- Governmental Organization (TANGO) | The Gambia |
179 | The Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Centre (GARDC) | Antigua and Barbuda |
180 | The Green Economics Initiative | Pakistan |
181 | Tuvalu Association of NGOs (TANGO) | Tuvalu |
182 | Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña (UNES) | El Salvador |
183 | Vanuatu Assocation of NGOs (VANGO) | Vanuatu |
184 | Voice | Bangladesh |
185 | West African Women Association (WAWA) | Liberia |
186 | Windward Islands Farmers’ Association (WINFA) | St. Vincent & the Grenadines |
187 | Women Across Differences (WAD) | GUYANA |
188 | Women's Media Watch | Jamaica |
189 | Working group Food Justice | The Netherlands |
190 | Worldview | The Gambia |
191 | X minus Y | The Netherlands |
192 | Young Women's Leadership Initiative | Jamaica |
193 | Zambia Council for Social Development | Zambia |