FTAA Update
Communication Workers of America
Jan. 2, 2003
In this update:
A Brief Look Back at 2002
2002 was the year that FAST TRACK passed (but we did slow them down
until August). We did work hard on amendments in the Senate, and the
Kerry Amendment and Corzine Amendments (and many others) raised visibility.
We did form relationships in that fight that will be strengthened through
out the fights ahead. In one week we were able to generate hundreds
of constituent emails to 92 Senators on the Corzine Amendment, and our
list grew!
They did hold the FTAA ministerial in Quito - but tens of thousands
did come to protest, and did demand to be heard. They did decide to
do us the favor of holding the fall 2003 Ministerial in Miami. They
released more text, but it is still bracketed and of questionable use
in interpreting the possible outcomes.
The WTO continued to hold Mini-Ministerials, but protesters continued
to find them around the world. The WTO staff is still protesting their
working conditions in Geneva (and that slows things down!). The GATS
process went ahead, with areas to be opened to more "trade liberalization"
expanding, but protests and popular education expanding too.
The USTR continued making deals, especially once they got FAST TRACK,
concluding the Chile agreement in December, working on Singapore (close
to done), starting the CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement)
talks, pushing the FTAA, beginning talks in Africa. And keeping the
Chile text secret, so that we wouldn't know what was in it.
The coalitions around the US, of trade unions, environmentalists, the
family farmers, communities of faith, and fair trade activists worked
together more, had local successes, and grew in size and creativity.
We had some great videos this year - the Bill Moyers Reports Trading
Democracy (which we have distributed over 500 copies of at our cost
of $7 each!). Trade Secrets - the Hidden Costs of the FTAA, and the
Strong Roots Fragile Farms, all helped people see, not just read, about
these issues and
join the actions. More on how to order those tapes at the end of this
Update.
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The Successes of the Week
And then, as the year closed down, a couple of noteworthy events:
Judge Rules in Freedom of Information Act - Release Chile Details.
On Thursday December 19th, a Federal Court Judge in Washington DC, gave
the USTR until January 17th to provide the copies of the documents in
the negotiations with Chile over the trade agreement. The lawsuit had
been filed in November 2001, and the success comes on the heels of the
announcement last week that the deal (which is still secret) is finished.
The litigation, brought by: Earthjustice on behalf of the Center for
International Environmental Law, Friends of the Earth, and Public Citizen,
will be very important in getting information on other trade agreements
- including CAFTA and the FTAA. A nice win!
Meanwhile, the Bush Administration had last week appointed
32 members to the 45 member Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and
Negotiations - all business (with great political contribution
histories) leaders (and two state level elected leaders). As the AFL-CIO
announced a lawsuit this week, the White House spoke up that the remaining
13 slots on the committee were being filled with labor, environmental,
and consumer groups, as required by law!
The AFL-CIO lawsuit over the composition of the Advisory Committee
for Trade Policy and Negotiations (legally established in 1974) will
go forward, at least until the full committee is appointed and can be
evaluated. The failure to appoint to the ACTPN could have adversely
affected the Chile Agreement, since it must be evaluated by that committee
and their report submitted by to Congress.
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A Brief Look toward 2003
There will be many things happening in the area of trade in 2003 -
this is a brief calendar:
January 1 - Lula takes office in Brazil, Gutierrez takes office in
Uruguay, and both have urged changes in the FTAA process.
January 7 - Talks begin on CAFTA (with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua) one purpose is to pressure FTAA negotiators.
January 22-26 - World Social Forum - Porto Alegre Brazil. This is your
last chance in the Western Hemisphere; the following World Social Forum
(which counters the World Economic Forum's meeting of business and government
leaders) will be in India. Many seminars, plenaries, and opportunities
for meeting up with people fighting the GATS and FTAA!
February 9th - GATS Demos in Europe
March 13th - GATS Demos go worldwide. The General Agreement on Trade
in Services (part of the WTO, World Trade Organization) process has
a deadline of March 31st for responses from Countries on what Services
they will agree to open to trade. With almost no way to stop the process
of privatization once it starts, it is essential to get involved in
GATS, even if it seems far away.
March 31st - GATS Offer Deadline. Each country to respond on what they
will allow other countries' companies to do in their country.
September 10-14 - WTO Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico. Having had the
"Battle in Seattle" in 1999 the WTO in 2001 moved to Doha,
Qatar in 2001 (where protest and dissent were not allowed). The WTO
is moving to a much closer and friendlier place in September. Cancun!
Plans are well underway.
November - Miami - FTAA Ministerial. The date is not set; the place
is, the FTAA Ministerial will take place in Miami, Florida. Groups in
the area are building listserves and getting ready for the opportunity
to hold workshops, educate the public and maybe take to the streets,
when the FTAA comes to town.
Final Thought - As the New Year starts and more goes on with trade
agreements and more negotiations there will be more to add to the calendar.
But the most important things are to get informed and get involved,
because you are not alone in wanting to see a human face put on the
globalization of trade. Kick back a bit as the year ends, because 2003
ahead will be full of action!
Thank you to all who have followed our links, continued the growth
of the FTAA Update, shared it with your friends, ordered our materials,
stopped by the website - http://www.unionvoice.org and taken part in
our e-activists campaigns to support CWA members
See you in 2003!
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