WTO Meeting in Hong Kong: What's in it for Women?
Last month, the countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) met in Hong Kong from December 13-18 2005 to revitalize and push forward the ‘Doha round’ of trade talks. Their challenge was to ensure that the needs of developing countries were kept at the core of the negotiating agenda, as was promised at the beginning of the round in 2001. After Hong Kong, most issues remain unresolved, and negotiations will continue through 2006. WTO member countries however did come to agreement on certain issues that will have implications for poor women around the world. For example, developed country governments agreed to eliminate farm export subsidies by 2013 and cotton export subsidies by the end of 2006. Export subsidies are specifically designed to encourage the export of certain goods. Many governments, however, also subsidize farmers directly in the form of payments, and the reduction of these direct payments has not yet been addressed by WTO members. Agricultural subsidies have been widely criticized internationally because they artificially lower the prices of farm exports from rich nations, making it difficult for farmers from developing nations to compete. Ending subsidies could affect women’s lives both as producers and as consumers of food. Women, in fact, produce 60 to 80 percent of the food grown in poor nations, but tend to be small or subsistence farmers who usually do not export their goods. The United States and other developed country governments also agreed to improve duty- and quota-free access for exports from least developed countries (LDCs). By 2008, they will grant such access for 97 percent of products, or tariff lines. As a result, women exporters in LDCs will be better able to compete in the U.S. market, because the majority of their goods will not face the discrimination of tariffs or quota limitations. Many LDCs already have duty-free access to the U.S. market under other programs, and while the new proposal will increase market access opportunities for LDCs, certain products, such as textiles and apparel, will likely remain subject to customs duties. Developed countries also committed to higher amounts of ‘aid for trade’ in Hong Kong, with the United States committing to increase its annual trade capacity building assistance (TCBA) from $1.3 billion in 2005 to $2.7 billion by 2010. TCBA is international assistance given to poor or transitional countries to help them participate in global trade and can include the training of trade negotiators and help to small businesses on how to export their goods. The international community has come to realize that without such assistance, trade liberalization alone will not necessarily bring about economic development. In the future, more of this assistance could go directly to helping poor women in developing countries take advantage of the opportunities that trade has to offer. Looking ahead, the current Doha round is expected to conclude at the end of the year. Yet there is much more to be done in order to make this round a true ‘development round,’ as it was initially billed. WTO member countries could go much further this year in creating real economic opportunities for women, who are the majority of the world’s poor. For example, greater reform of international agricultural markets and increased market access for textiles and apparel could improve women’s livelihoods. Apart from being the majority of the world’s agricultural labor force, women account for the majority of textile and apparel workers in many developing countries. The latter is especially true in Asia, where, according to the International Labor Organization, women account for 89 percent of the textile and apparel sector in Cambodia, 80 percent in Bangladesh, and 82 percent in Sri Lanka. If the promise of the Doha round is to be fulfilled, it is important that women like them see more of the benefits of trade. Published January 10, 2006 |
