Filipinos to protest WTO meet

MANILA, Philippines–A Filipino activist group has expressed support for anti-free trade protest actions to coincide with the 9th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Bali, Indonesia, on Dec. 3-6.

The conference, the top decision-making body of the WTO, is held every two years. The Philippines joined the WTO in 1995, agreeing to lift tariff and regulatory barriers in order to access markets of other WTO members now numbering 159.

Ibon International said several civil society groups will converge on the People’s Global Camp to call for an end to free trade.

Organized by the Indonesian People’s Alliance, the PGC will conduct workshops and a “global march for sovereignty and trade to serve peoples.”

Ibon said the event will call on governments to revoke free trade agreements.

RELATED STORIES:

Thai response to WTO tobacco ruling probed

Thais still afoul of WTO ruling on imported PH cigarettes

WTO backs US in chicken trade dispute with China