12th December 2005 - Arrival in Hong Kong and warming up

Greetings. Loads of bread and bananas already stocked to keep me going through the week. I guess I won’t have too much time but I thought I would keep you posted on what goes on each day so that you get a flavour.

The official programme of the Conference does not start until tomorrow so today was a day for outreach to the trade community. The tone and rhythm of this Conference will change from tomorrow so I took the opportunity to meet with people who, though not directly involved in the negotiations, care deeply about their outcome. I met with parliamentarians, trade union leaders, politicians and members of civil society while managing to meet as well with lots of Ministers and their officials.

I overslept so I could only do a quick run at the gym but, given the vastness of this Conference Centre, I may be able to get all the exercise I need simply by moving from meeting to meeting inside this facility. I must say the Conference Centre is amazing — a true reflection of a modern Hong Kong. HK Trade Minister John Tsang has done a great job.

After some quick meetings with my staff this morning, I’m off to say a few words to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. As I told them, involvement of national parliamentarians in WTO matters lends trade relations necessary accountability. It is parliaments, after all, which must approve any agreement resulting from these negotiations, so keeping legislators informed and involved is of critical importance.

Then a visit to the International Confederation of Trade Unions. I can’t agree more with their insistence that trade has to create more jobs. People’s livelihoods and the chance to improve standards of living — that’s why we’re here, and why I said to them they should support our work.

I had lunch with Commonwealth Trade Ministers — delicious Cantonese cuisine — they were concerned that the negotiations are not moving very fast. I told them that this week needs to be about negotiations — not just Christmas shopping.

Back to the Conference Centre for the “Big Noise” — a petition signed by almost 18 million citizens in favour of fair trade. I’m certainly impressed by the petition and by Oxfam’s work to get people thinking about trade. Talking of which, while I was doing an interview with a French radio station, José Bové called in to complain he was being retained at Hong Kong airport and was not being allowed in. I told him I would check with the HK authorities. Some hours later he was here ..... that’s what open dialogue is about.

It’s been a long day but there are still some Ministers to meet before I can relax and get ready for tomorrow: the big opening ceremony. Talk to you then, and stay with me!

Edited 12/10/2005 12:03 pm by PascalLamy

Great Job, Mr. Lamy.
Could we organise for the Ministerials as a matter of rule, in LDC's or Developing Countries, say for next 5 meets.
1. This would help the representatives/delegates to understand better their problems.
2. Such selection of venue would not make any adverse difference to the developed countries, however for an LDC it could come as a big oppurtunity. Boosting its local economy, as well as helping it to portray itself on the world map.
3. The Multinational's sponsoring such events would not mind donating an extra bit, for infrastructure.
So many more advantages accrue, and most importantly it would enable more people to get comfortable with WTO, since they would feel closer to WTO and vice-versa is also true.

with regards, and best wishes for success of HKM
Rishabh Sancheti
5th Year, BBA-LLB
National Law University
Jodhpur, India

I am impressed by your willingness to communicate, to be honest about your frustrations and the WTO (as an institution's) limitations.... And as a fellow runner, I appreciate your frankness that you couldn't run...

I wonder if the WTO hasn't grown too unwieldly : its membership strategy and structure are not aligned.  We are asking the WTO to do too much--to mitigate between too many different approaches to economic, political and social governance. To me this signals the WTO staff needs to have greater research authority and independence.

Dr. Susan Aaronson

JUNK WTO!

je m'inquiete des repercussions possibles de l'accord qui vient d'etre signe a H K en particulier pour les petites economies insulaires, je suis sur que les experts de votre institutions connaissent tres bien ce probleme mais je n'arrive pas a trouver les rapports ou les etudes faites a ce sujet pour vous meme et pour les decideurs de votre organisations.
De plus je viens de lireai des etudes d'un chercheur Raoul-Marc Jennar,qui dit en substance "la priorité absolue donnée au dogme du libre-échange est source d’accroissement des déséquilibres mondiaux". Et de citer l’accord conclu il y a quelque temps déjà au sein de l’ALENA, la zone de libre-échange nord-américaine : avant la signature de cet accord, "le Mexique était autosuffisant et exportait même des produits agricoles. Aujourd’hui, ce pays est devenu un importateur net. Ses agriculteurs n’ont pas pu résister à la concurrence de l’agrobusiness américain. Cela a signifié la mise en faillite de très nombreuses petites exploitations familiales et la perte de dizaines de milliers d’emplois dans les campagnes. La libre concurrence en cette matière revient à mettre en compétition sur un ring de boxe un poids lourd face à un poids plume".
C’est pourquoi le chercheur trouve "mauvais" l’accord de Hong Kong. "Les normes imposées pour l’ouverture des marchés des services et des biens manufacturés font penser à une sorte de néo-colonisation au profit des grands groupes du Nord".

Je voudrais etre rassure , : il se trompe ?

Dear Mr Sancheti,  with more than two thirds of  WTO members among developing countries it is inevitable that the Ministerial meeting can also be held in one of these countries. I agree it has  benefits for the country involved and for the image of the WTO. As you may know, such decisions are taken by WTO Members, who will also no doubt see the merit of proposals like yours.

PL

many thanks, Mr. Lamy.

Rishabh Sancheti
5ht year, BBA-LLB (Hons.)
National Law University
India

I agree: The WTO is only one element in governing globalisation. We need more of this in other social and economic areas.  I agree that a stronger research capacity could contribute a sound basis for the public debate about the WTO and its mandate.

PL

WHY?

PL