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D'OH(A)! - August 3, 2006
Just last week, the five-year process at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to advance a global free trade agenda imploded. Labeled the Doha round, these negotiations were ostensibly focused on providing greater benefits for developing countries. Key to this agenda was addressing trade-distorting agriculture subsidies and tariffs since billions of the world's poorest citizens depend on farming. Amidst the subsequent show of posturing and finger pointing, the central lesson of the Doha collapse is already dimming. While a number of issues plagued the WTO talks, the centerpiece of the failure was the determination of rich governments to continue pandering to powerful agriculture lobbies. Read more..