GMA hits rich nations for Doha round snag

TOKYO (AFP) — President Arroyo has pinned the blame on rich countries for stalling the Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations but said developing nations still hoped for a deal.

Addressing an economic forum here yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo said the Philippines will continue to sign free-trade pacts so that the rapidly expanding Philippine economy will enjoy mature, sustainable growth.

“We hope the Doha round is successful because it was designed to be the round that would focus on development, to be the round to bring the benefits of the global trading system to less developed nations,” she said.

“On this road to globalization, the developed nations have let many of the less developed nations down,” she said.

The Doha Development Round, launched in 2001 among the WTO members to reach a global trade pact, collapsed last year.

Less developed countries have demanded that rich nations — including Japan, the United States and the European Union — cut back subsidies to farmers, fearing poor countries’ agricultural sector would be submerged.

“When trade served their intersts, it was the green light. Now that they might have to give up certain subsidies or markets, the yellow light of caution is up,” Mrs. Arroyo said of rich nations.

“While we want a successful round, we will not just wait around. We aim to go full speed ahead, in the Philippines and in ASEAN, to strengthen our economic ties regardless of what the Doha (round) does or does not,” she said.

ASEAN nations — individually and collectively — will continue to form regional and bilateral free trade pacts for further economic gains, she said.

Mrs. Arroyo has agreed to a free-trade deal with Japan but its ratification has been stalled in the Philippine Senate with environmentalists saying the country could become a dumping ground for toxic waste.