Agence France Presse | October 21, 2003
Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade said Tuesday he had abandoned hope in the World Trade Organization and called instead for direct talks between blocs of countries aimed at boosting global commerce.
"I want to say today that I frankly do not believe in the WTO," Wade told a session of the European Parliament here.
He told MPs the Geneva-based WTO had become too broad in scope to be able to find points of common interest among its members.
"That is why I would advocate a direct dialogue between continents and sub-continents ... such as the European Union and the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific nations) or between the European Union and Africa."
Wade -- as have many other leaders from developing countries -- criticized subsidies accorded rich countries to certain sectors such as agriculture that are widely seen as distorting trade and harming the interests of farmers in poor nations.
"We are for free trade but fair trade," he told representatives from the 15-member EU. "We are for free trade ... but on condition that everyone plays by the rules. Unfortunately developed countries, including yours, do not respect these rules."
Wade was especially harsh in his criticism of US and EU agricultural subsidies, which he said amounted to a billion dollars a day.
He added that he was not among those calling for the immediate abolition of such aid but appealed for "financial compenseation" until they are eliminated.
A WTO ministerial conference in Cancun, Mexico ended in failure last month, largely reflecting exasperation on the part of developing countries at their inability to secure pledges from rich countries to cut agricultural export subsidies.
Elsewhere in his remarks Wade called for steps to complement cooperation accords and external financial aid and asked for an influx of private capital to boost development in his country.Agence France Presse:
