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Reflections on the WTO Public Forum 

28 to 30 September 2009

Alison Curtis, Intern - At the World Trade Organization's Public Forum 2009, I was surprised by the willingness and determination of the participants and panelists to find solutions to the issues of today.  Based on my experience in the United States as an American citizen, I feel that policymakers tend to ignore environmental issues and dealing with the economy holds precedence over tackling sustainability and the issue of climate change.  However, while I was at the WTO Public Forum, the financial crisis and sustainability were continuously spoken of as linked issues where sustainability is in fact a major component in working towards ending the economic and financial crisis.  Both coherence and transparency were echoed throughout the forum, and the panelists of the sessions seemed to be in agreement that there is not a single solution from any single organization, but solutions must come from throughout the world, from both the public and private sectors and both in the form of national and international policy.  However, during a session dedicated to the post-crisis agenda of the WTO, the panelists, many of whom are also WTO representatives, seemed to disregard the theme of possible solutions, and instead focused on problems of the past and the present, and on what the WTO has done up until now.  When participants voiced complaints regarding current issues in their home countries and the lack of response from the WTO, the panelists shifted the blame to other organizations and denied responsibility.  I found the attitude of this session to be in great contrast to the rest of the forum, and even to the message given by Pascal Lamy, WTO Director, on global governance and the necessity of organizations to work together.

Great emphasis was placed on concluding the Doha Round, and there was much anticipation and acknowledgement of the importance for the Copenhagen Climate Conference this December.  Everyone agreed that the G-20 summit meeting in Pittsburgh, USA is a great step on the ladder towards global governance, but that more countries need to be involved.  

Concerns were raised over the current bilateral system of the WTO and suggestions were made to switch to a multi-lateral or even plurilateral system.  Much emphasis was placed on the need to globalize politics, and to incorporate international issues into national policies.  Many panelists cautioned that exit strategies from the financial crisis must be long-term solutions and not return “back to business as usual” in order to avoid future financial crises.  Agriculture was a major concern at the forum, and was even coined as “the sphinx of the Doha Round.”  Biofuels were spoken of as taboo, as they remove crops from the food sector, and add to the problem of hunger.  Representatives seemed to condemn protectionism, especially those from developing countries, and claimed that it stifled trade between the developed and developing worlds, damaging the economies of poor countries and only benefiting the home country.  It was suggested that there needs to be universal certification schemes, rather than having multiple certificates of the same thing from many different private companies, which would eliminate confusion and reduce costs for farmers.  Developed countries were encouraged to invest in developing countries, through the training and education of professionals in the sectors of trade, agriculture, and health.  The comments, questions, and suggestions made by both the panelists and the participants throughout the forum impressed me, as there was an understanding for the need of global cooperation in order for a progressive future.  In my attendance of the WTO Public Forum 2009, I am encouraged that the issues that our world is faced with today in regards to trade, agriculture, and climate change can be successfully addressed by policymakers through the collaboration and dialogues of governments, international organizations, and businesses alike.

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