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Pratap Ravindran

MUMBAI, May 27

WORLD trade, as a subject, is terminally boring for most. But, apparently, it has its moments... ..

Mr Keith M. Rockwell, Director, Information and Media Relations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), has sent an e-mail to all those on the organisation's mailing list, stating as follows: "Some of you may have received a press release from those clever folks at "Yes Men''which purports to be a press release from the `World Trade Organisation Public Relations''.

This press release states that the WTO will disband and be formed under a new charter as the Trade Regulation Organisation. Needless to say, "The communique is a hoax''.

Mr Rockwell goes on to add that the Yes Men, through the use of their Web site (www.gatt.org) have had impressive success in duping various organisations around the world into believing that they are representatives of the WTO.

This communication from Mr Rockwell is in response to a press release posted on the www.gatt.org Web site on May 20, stating: "After a protracted and detailed review of current trade policy and its effects on developing countries, the World Trade Organisation has decided to effect a cessation of all operations, to be accomplished over a period of four months, culminating in September. The WTO will reintegrate as a new trade body whose charter will be to ensure that trade benefits the poor''.

No wonder the folks at WTO are having the conniption fits. WTO and benefits to the poor? An oxymoron, if there was ever one.

According to the send-up "press release'', as of September, agreements reached under the WTO will be suspended pending ratification by the new organisation, tentatively referred to as the Trade Regulation Organisation.

"Many existing agreements are likely to be re-ratified, but each will be subject to individual review for compliance with the TRO's charter, which is based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights''.

"The restructuring has come in response to numerous studies indicating that current trade liberalisation rules and policies have led to increased poverty and inequality, and have eroded democratic principles, with a disproportionately large effect on the poorest countries''.

It claims "... ..In addition, all aspects of TRIPS, TRIMS, AoA and other agreements will be reviewed with humanitarian and other considerations in mind and will be progressively replaced with corresponding versions under the TRO''.

"Proposals and resolutions for the foundation of the TRO will be evaluated, beginning in June, according to their likelihood of furthering the TRO charter.

Specifically, this will mean redressing the imbalances of existing trade agreements, providing access for developing countries to developed countries' markets, assessing the effects (of) past trade liberalisation and redressing problems wherever possible, and developing an enforceable framework for special and differential treatment guaranteeing that development policies are not undermined by trade agreements.''

But who are the Yes Men who have succeeded in lampooning the WTO so well? No one really knows. According to http://theyesmen.org, "the yesmen are a genderless, loose-knit association of some three hundred imposters worldwide. Their feeling today can be summed up in one simple phrase: Enterprise Excitement.''

Whoever they may be, they are there at gatt.org, giving the WTO a run for its... well... .money!

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