WTO Free Logging Agreement Attack on Australia's Sovereignty
11/11/99
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: WTO FREE LOGGING ATTACK ON AUSTRALIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL
SOVEREIGNTY
Source: Friends of the Earth Sydney--Forestry, forest@foesyd.org.au
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: November 11, 1999
15th NATIONAL FOREST SUMMIT MEDIA RELEASE - Thursday 11th NOV. 1999
The Australian National Forest Summit (NFS), meeting on 6-9th
November, has joined with international environment groups to reject
international industry and US. Clinton Administration moves for a
global free trade logging agreement. This proposal is due to be
discussed at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Seattle at
the end of November.
"The NFS expressed concern that such an agreement will wind back years
of progressive environmental policies in favour of a deregulated
industry free from environmental controls" said summit spokesperson
Tim Cadman.
"Any attempt to deregulate the international logging industry will
have serious effects on Australian forests.
"The Australian NFS groups urge the WTO, Australian and US Governments
to reject any measures that over-ride domestic social justice and
environmental legislation.
"The NFS is appalled at WTO ignorance of current unsustainable rates
of logging across Australia. At the same time, the US. government is
proposing to the WTO a 9.2% increase in exported wood products from
Australia. Such an increase in logging would exacerbate existing major
conflict over native forest logging, reduce stream flows and water
quality, and conflict with Australia's commitment to limit greenhouse
emissions to an increase of 8% - this has already been exceeded.
"Like the failed Multilateral Agreement on Investment, this latest
round of WTO talks will have a dramatic impact on the Australian
environment, and add to the impoverishment of rural communities"
concluded Mr Tim Cadman.
The NFS meeting was attended by 50 representatives of peak and local
conservation groups from across Australia at East Gippsland in south
eastern Australia. The full text of the summit resolution is available
on request.
For comment: Tim Cadman in Deloraine, Tasmania tel. 61-3-6369 5474,
mobile 0419 628 709
Damian Sullivan in Melbourne tel. 03-9419 8700
Resolution of 15th National Forest Summit of Australian Peak, regional
and local forest protection groups on World Trade Organisation (WTO)
free logging agreement talks in Seattle (from 30th November 1999),
passed 8th November 1999
"A. Participants at the Australian National Forest Summit of
conservation groups held 6-9th November 1999 reject international
logging industry and US Clinton Administration moves for a global free
logging agreement to be discussed at the WTO Seattle meeting(30th Nov-
3rd December 1999). The groups expressed concern that such an
agreement has the potential to wind back years of progressive
environmental policies in favour of a deregulated industry free from
environmental controls.
B. The summit urges the WTO, Australian and US Governments to reject
any measures that would prohibit the following: (a) domestic
environmental and social justice legislation (including sovereign
state initiatives to impose controls on genetic modification, chemical
use, plantation establishment, carbon credit schemes); (b) raw log
export bans;
(c) green procurement policies;
(d) eco-labelling and forest certification; (e) invasive species
safeguards.
C. The National Forest Summit wishes to express its concern regarding:
(a) unequal access to information in global markets; (b) lack of
accounting of social and environmental costs (so called
"externalities");
(c) selective removal of subsidies/non tariff measures e.g. continued
government road construction for logging versus removal of
environmental protections;
(d) selective application of "free" trade e.g. in favour of US lamb
suppliers; and
(e) In Australia's case conservation groups are appalled at WTO
ignorance of current unsustainable rates of logging while the US
government proposes to the WTO a 9.2% increase in export of wood
products from Australia (refer study by US Trade Representative and
White House Council on Environmental Quality 1999). Such an increase
in logging would (i) cause decreased stream flows and worsening water
quality; and (ii) conflict with Australia's commitment to limit
greenhouse emissions to an increase of 8%. Australia has already
exceeded this limitation."