Behind the world trade deal
The trade deal struck by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) last week is "a blueprint for deeper trade liberalisation that will not deliver poverty reduction to the poorest countries," according to the World Development Movement (WDM). Reports in the press hailed the deal as breathing life back into the Doha "development" round following the collapse of trade talks in Cancun, Mexico last September. But while some concessions to poorer countries were made, the overall agreement strengthens the world neo-liberal economic order, and it will not tackle the pressing issues facing workers around the...