This is an interesting note from Tonga which has acceded to WTO and the question for Vanuatu is do we want to be in their position after accession or should we take this advice now
Below is the advice from our Tongan Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. friend.
1. WTO is only beneficial if you are a net exporting country. If you aren't like all of us island countries it's a license for all the big boys (not just the Chinese) to walk into your house and eat your food because you've just put a sign on the door that says “Open house”.
2 Of course, when they're “selling” the concept they only talk up all the access you'll be getting to their markets.
3.And finally, it's like us getting membership at the UN, you're only ever needed to vote something that the big boys want. Other than that, you might get an invite to a cocktail now and then.
4.My advice to Vanuatu, is you be a lot smarter than us Tongans.
The unions believe in doing what our Tongan friend suggests, to BE SMART Vanuatu!!
Ephraim Kalsakau VCTU
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Is Vanuatu ready to access WTO?
Since May 2011, Vanuatu is now on its way to access the World Trade Organisation. Please let us know if you think what you think about it. Thank you.
RECEIVED BY EMAIL: From the Agricultural sector point of view, if vanuatu government agrees to WTO is like the vanuatu government signing a dead penalty for vanuatu and it's citizens ( have access to insecure foods from other countries, damage locally grown agriculural products, and processing units). It is very straight forward for the vanuatu government to say no to WTO without waiting or asking the people what to do.
A short story to Vanuatu Government which as some hidden meaning if Vanuatu Government agrees to WTO;
A man went out in the forest to collect the rafters and crosses to complete his newly built traditional house. He came to a banyan tree and he saw an arial root of the banyan tree which he knew that will be the best for the roof of his house. He decided to climb up the root. When he reached the top, he sat below and started cutting above him (without realizing that the arial roots of banyan tree grows opposit direction(grow from top to bottom) unlike normal plant growth (grows from bottom up). He realize his mistake only after he landed on the ground. He ended up in the hospital and he never finish his house.
Note; We had our physical independance but we are still working hard to archieve our economical independance. from a concern citizen
You will need someone better than me to write this so people will understand or without having to read a lengthy website. Type Antigua WTO into search engines. http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds285_e.htm
The small Island Nations of Antigua and Barbuda have little in the way of natural resources, no manufacturing, but they did have a thriving (and legal) Internet gaming and gambling industry. The USA shut their business down overnight, but did allow others to operate. The two tiny countries to USA to the WTO Court. The won, USA appealed, they won again. USA did not reopen their industry. Antgiua and Barbuda took the USA to the WTO court for damages. The damages were calculated at USD@21m. An outrageously small quantum and one based on more outrageously incorrect calculations which only took the horse racing side (a small percentage) of their entire gaming business value. The WTO has ruled that Antigua and Barbuda can break TRIPS by coming and selling some music legally. The value of that deal? 10 songs!
The case started in 2003 and in 2011 we still see these two small Nations with no industry, no money from the USA and no doubt not happy they joined the WTO. It does not say what the costs were to take this court action.
Costs for Vanuatu would be prohibitive as the WTO Court does not come to Vila. People are saying we could use this on Germany for kava. It is not possible. Kava is not blocked by Germany, or anywhere in the EU “technically” by a barrier to trade and longer. It is now a matter of BfArM (German health “authorities”) setting of standards for kava, which is an internal country decision, not a Trade or WTO one. Yes, BfArM are being disrespectful and breaking their promises, but that would be best handled by a formal diplomatic protest by all the kava Producing Nations by their own Foreign Affairs to German Foreign Affairs buy the internationally recognised demarche.
Another point I have seen raised is would it still be possible to have the vatu, a fixed currency, or would it have to be floated?
What is the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu comments on that matter?
Please have it written so people can understand that the WTO Court is not a fair and level playing field at all. It is costly, slow and to clearly does not care that two small island nations can lose their industries overnight and not be compensated. That should have been billions, not 10 songs.
A public forum on World Trade Organisation was held on Thursday 11th August 2011 from 4:30 to 8:00pm at the Chief's Nakamal in Port Vila. This meeting organised by Vanuatu Association of NGOs (VANGO) in partnership with the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) debated several points for the accession of Vanuatu to WTO. More details available in the documents "Myths and Facts WTO" and "New Guide WTO" under the ressources section.
RECEIVED BY EMAIL:
ReplyDeleteFrom the Agricultural sector point of view, if vanuatu government agrees to WTO is like the vanuatu government signing a dead penalty for vanuatu and it's citizens ( have access to insecure foods from other countries, damage locally grown agriculural products, and processing units). It is very straight forward for the vanuatu government to say no to WTO without waiting or asking the people what to do.
A short story to Vanuatu Government which as some hidden meaning if Vanuatu Government agrees to WTO;
A man went out in the forest to collect the rafters and crosses to complete his newly built traditional house. He came to a banyan tree and he saw an arial root of the banyan tree which he knew that will be the best for the roof of his house. He decided to climb up the root. When he reached the top, he sat below and started cutting above him (without realizing that the arial roots of banyan tree grows opposit direction(grow from top to bottom) unlike normal plant growth (grows from bottom up). He realize his mistake only after he landed on the ground. He ended up in the hospital and he never finish his house.
Note; We had our physical independance but we are still working hard to archieve our economical independance.
from a concern citizen
RECEIVED BY EMAIL:
ReplyDeleteDear Vanuatu colleague,
You will need someone better than me to write this so people will understand or without having to read a lengthy website. Type Antigua WTO into search engines. http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds285_e.htm
The small Island Nations of Antigua and Barbuda have little in the way of natural resources, no manufacturing, but they did have a thriving (and legal) Internet gaming and gambling industry. The USA shut their business down overnight, but did allow others to operate. The two tiny countries to USA to the WTO Court. The won, USA appealed, they won again. USA did not reopen their industry. Antgiua and Barbuda took the USA to the WTO court for damages. The damages were calculated at USD@21m. An outrageously small quantum and one based on more outrageously incorrect calculations which only took the horse racing side (a small percentage) of their entire gaming business value. The WTO has ruled that Antigua and Barbuda can break TRIPS by coming and selling some music legally. The value of that deal? 10 songs!
The case started in 2003 and in 2011 we still see these two small Nations with no industry, no money from the USA and no doubt not happy they joined the WTO. It does not say what the costs were to take this court action.
Costs for Vanuatu would be prohibitive as the WTO Court does not come to Vila. People are saying we could use this on Germany for kava. It is not possible. Kava is not blocked by Germany, or anywhere in the EU “technically” by a barrier to trade and longer. It is now a matter of BfArM (German health “authorities”) setting of standards for kava, which is an internal country decision, not a Trade or WTO one. Yes, BfArM are being disrespectful and breaking their promises, but that would be best handled by a formal diplomatic protest by all the kava Producing Nations by their own Foreign Affairs to German Foreign Affairs buy the internationally recognised demarche.
Another point I have seen raised is would it still be possible to have the vatu, a fixed currency, or would it have to be floated?
What is the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu comments on that matter?
Please have it written so people can understand that the WTO Court is not a fair and level playing field at all. It is costly, slow and to clearly does not care that two small island nations can lose their industries overnight and not be compensated. That should have been billions, not 10 songs.