We are calling upon WTO members to give full consideration to the following proposals, and to endorse them in Doha at the 4th Ministerial Conference of the WTO.

Kyoto Protocol/WTO linkage

WTO member states must seize the opportunity of the WTO Ministerial Conference to increase pressure on the United States with regard to their rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. WTO member states should say before arriving in Doha that they will not discuss the possibility of a new round of trade liberalisation if the US does not agree to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

If the US continues to refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, WTO Member States who support Kyoto should also consider bringing that country before a WTO Dispute Settlement Panel, because the US position is providing the equivalent of a hidden subsidy for their domestic industry, inconsistent with WTO rules.

Assessment

As an initial step, the ability to ensure that trade rules are sustainable depends on the availability of accurate knowledge of the impacts of such rules. Comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments are thus essential to resolving the issues raised. This assessment process is long overdue. It must begin immediately.

It must be open and transparent, global in scope, and conducted through a balanced and impartial process. It should be carried out in co-operation with all trading partners, and with the rest of the UN family (i.e. UNEP, UNDP, FAO, UNESCO, MEAs, etc) and take account of the expertise of NGOs. A retrospective and honest review of past and current impacts of existing policy must complement a forward-looking reform.

The fundamental question is whether the framework of laws, policies and institutions is in place to ensure that additional multilateral steps to liberalise trade will lead to environmentally and socially beneficial outcomes. If not, then the assessment must formulate needed institutional, legal and policy changes.

"Decisions taken by our institution affect the lives of ordinary men and women all over the world. It is right that we should be held accountable," WTO Director-General Mike Moore

b) The WTO must incorporate the precautionary principle in its decision-making as the most scientifically rigorous approach. This must include a shift of the burden of proof in dispute settlement proceedings as an integral part of the precautionary principle;

"None of us has perfect knowledge," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

c) In line with GATT Article XX and other relevant provisions, the WTO must accept the value of trade-restricting measures under clearly defined conditions that respect equity and other concerns of developing countries. National trade-related measures aimed at protecting the environment can be useful for managing domestic consumption, and catalysing international action in cases where there are no appropriate binding international environmental standards.

"Voters and consumers want more information and control, accountability and greater ownership," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

d) Distinctions between products that are based upon production or processing methods (PPMs) related to the environment should be accepted by the WTO. Such PPM-based distinctions can be applied as part of international agreements, as well as through appropriate national measures (e.g. eco-labelling and other labelling schemes aiming at informing the public on the hazards of certain goods);

"I know trade alone is not the answer," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

e) As a matter of principle, there should be no patents on life forms. The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which constitutes a grave trade/environment conflict involving the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) urgently needs a solution. Harmonisation of Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS agreement with the provisions of the CBD and the FAO International Undertaking is needed to guarantee the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, the protection of the rights and knowledge of indigenous and local communities, as well as the promotion of farmers´ rights.

"Heavy, fresh and creative thinking must be done about the roles, functions, jurisdictions, obligations, management and mandates of all international institutions and how to deliver our services," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

f) Transparency, openness and consultation at the WTO urgently need to be improved, including the establishment of rules providing NGOs as well as indigenous and local communities with the right to be truly consulted in dispute settlement procedures, and to attend WTO negotiations. The fact that, in 2001, NGOs remain excluded from the meetings of the WTO Committee on Trade and the Environment and the Committee on Trade and Development is an anachronism. NGO participation would be mutually beneficial, and is likely to lead to improved mutual understanding;

"I welcome scrutiny, it makes us stronger and more accountable," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

g) There should be more coherence in the subsidy reduction/elimination policy of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies, taking into account environmental, social and development aspects. Environmentally damaging subsidies, e.g. in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, should be eliminated. Most importantly these subsidies put environmentally benign alternatives (such as clean production industries or practices of artisan fisherfolk) at a disadvantage.

"Kofi Annan wants $10 billion to fight Aids; that is just 12 days of subsidies in
dollar terms," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

No New Round - Limit the expansion of the WTO

Greenpeace International urges WTO member states to give priority in Doha to the above recommendations, instead of launching a new round of trade liberalisation. Endorsement of these recommendations as the Doha agenda would constitute an excellent and concrete outcome for the 4th ministerial conference of the WTO. The issues and outstanding problems identified in this booklet demonstrate that it would be irresponsible to embark in a new round while they have not been resolved. Until the assessments and reforms listed above have been completed, further economic liberalisation should continue to be placed on hold. Now is the wrong time to expand the reach of the WTO into new areas.

"Critics, who are not all mad or bad, frequently say that we have too much power," WTO Director-General Mike Moore.

Is Greening Doha possible?

Want more information? Download the Safe Trade in the 21st Century report (Pdf - 559k)