For decades good citizens have hoped that world trade could become a level playing field - and that the huge imbalance against the developing world could be corrected.
Hope is one thing. Achievement is another - and once again that gathering of nations called the " Doha round " has concluded - in failure !
In the past, failure has been the result of the developed world refusing to open it's markets because it's farm lobby has refused to give up lucrative subsidies that have supported inefficient farming practice.
This time it was different. Fast developing economies China and India have a sharp imbalance between the prosperity of their cities and their impoverished countryside. They fear that opening their markets to western farm products would cause such a backlash that it could lead to civil war - and as a result they were the stumbling block that led to failure.
One thing is certain. Further change is on the future horizon - and once again the dice will roll heavily against the developing world.
This planet Earth is becoming overcrowded. At the same time, global warming is going to bring with it more droughts and lower food production - and this will be further enhanced by farming land being reserved for ethanol production to alleviate the oil shortage.
Food prices are already slipping out of reach of the world's poor. When the rich countries run short of food there is no doubt that they will use their financial clout to buy what they need to sustain their wasteful lifestyles.
Doha may be the aim of reaching some sort of nirvana - but when push comes to shove the needs of the developing world will fall a long way short when it comes to competing with money !
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