When the World Trade Organisation last held a
ministerial meeting, anti-globalisation riots made Seattle seem like a
war-zone. Two years on, hapless WTO ministers are about to fly into a
real war-zone. They plan to meet on November 9th in Doha, the capital
of Qatar, the Gulf state that plays host to al-Jazeera, the Arab TV
station that is scooping the world’s media with its coverage of the war
in Afghanistan. The US and the EU insist the meeting should go ahead as
scheduled, although an escalation of hostilities could yet derail it.
Globalisation
Dump those prejudices
Many on the left obsessively loathe the World Trade
Organisation, in the way Tory Europhobes hate the European Union. Just
as Brussels-bashers peddle lies about the EU, so Naomi Klein, Noreena
Hertz and others slander the WTO. That is a pity. The left has warmed
to the EU. Now it should reconsider its opposition to the WTO. Believe
it or not, the WTO is not against social democracy.
Free trade works in favour of the poorest
One of the enduring myths about globalisation is that
it is bad for the poor. Yet the facts suggest otherwise. Freeing trade
increases economic growth, because new technologies, such as the
internet, spread faster and foreign competition spurs domestic
companies to become more productive. This faster growth, in turn,
reduces poverty.
One world? Don’t blame globalisation
Europe is finally reforming. Governments are starting to liberalize.
European Union leaders have pledged to nurture the new economy.
Germany’s parliament has approved radical tax reform. France’s finance
minister is talking about tax cuts too. Amazing. But is globalization
forcing their hands?