WTO

Globalisation at Gunpoint

Through the instrument of the World Trade Organisation, the United States and the other rich First World countries are attempting to impose their inhuman neoliberal economic regime on the entire world.

The aim is to maximise the market penetration of goods and services from the US and other imperialist countries, irrespective of any impact this may have on the health and livelihood of the people.

It’s enforced 'free trade' for the Third World and protectionism and export subsidies for the First World. Washington is pushing countries to accept GM foods produced by US agribusiness. It is trying to force Third World countries to use only expensive life-saving medicines from Western pharmaceutical companies rather than produce or import cheaper equivalents. And health, education, power and water-supply services are all slated for privatisation; in the WTO’s gunsights they are seen simply as so many further opportunities for Western big business to make a profit.

And while Australia is only a middle-rank imperialist power, it is firmly part of this criminal profits-before-everything shakedown, especially in the Pacific and South-East Asia.

This collection of articles from Green Left Weekly is a primer on the issues for activists and all those opposed to the WTO’s 'globalisation at gunpoint'.