World-Wide Wave of Opposition to Clinton Administration WTO Forest
Plan
11/4/99
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: World-Wide Wave of Opposition to Clinton Administration WTO
Forest Plan
Source: American Lands Alliance
www.americanlands.org
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: November 4, 1999
Byline: Antonia Juhasz (202) 547-9230
Washington, DC - Concerned citizens from across the U.S. and the
world joined together today to oppose a Clinton Administration plan
that threatens forests and forest protection efforts.
Today, over 430 organizations and individuals from virtually every
state in the nation and every continent -- from Boise, Idaho to
Chennai, India -- sent a strongly worded letter to U.S. Trade
Representative Charlene Barshefsky voicing opposition to a Clinton
Administration plan at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to
increase trade in forest products. Because it will increase logging
while threatening forest protection measures, the proposal has been
labeled the "global free logging agreement" (GLFA).
Urging the Administration to "demonstrate a commitment to conserving
forests rather than continue a trade policy that treats forests as
mere commodities," the letter stresses that "current logging
practices have decimated the world's forests. An increase in such
unsustainable practices made possible through the [GFLA] will hasten
the deforestation of the world's native forests."
The signatories ask the Administration to "withdraw its support for
this proposal" and to "reject any wood products negotiations that
threaten to treat legitimate conservation measures as illegal non-
tariff trade barriers." The letter recommends that the
Administration "propose methods to restrict the WTO's jurisdiction
over environmental protection laws" instead.
A study released by the U.S. government this week found that the
tariff elimination proposal would increase logging in some of the
world's last remaining native forests in countries including Chile,
Malaysia and Indonesia.
Today, opposition to the GFLA is the focus of educational and public
outreach activities taking place across the U.S. and the world.
Events are planned in India, Africa, Japan, England, Chile, Canada
and in cities and towns across the U.S. - from Medford, Oregon to New
Bedford, Massachusetts. Organizers of the events believe that
greater public awareness about the GFLA will result in less support
by governments at the WTO.
The WTOs 135 member countries are meeting in November to write new
international trade and investment rules, including the GFLA. The
GFLA could dramatically impact the ability of citizens to protect
the world's remaining forests in two ways: (1) by reducing barriers
to trade in wood products without appropriate environmental
protections which will lead to increased production and logging; and
(2) by threatening the ability of citizens to write necessary forest
protection laws by labeling them "non tariff barriers to trade" and
therefore illegal under WTO rules. Vital forest protection laws that
could be eliminated include laws to protect forests from invasive
pests, recycled content requirements for office and news paper, eco-
labeling and "smart wood" laws, and bans on the export of raw logs
and wood chips.
View Letter on American Lands Web Page at
http:/www.americanlands.org.