Trade unions in emerging countries voice concerns in Doha talks

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GENEVA, Mar 13 (AFP): Leading trade unions in South Africa, the Philippines and Brazil voiced fears here yesterday that their industries could come out badly in the current Doha round of trade liberalisation talks.
Rudi Dicks of the South African trade union congress COSATU said negotiators had failed to take account of positions held by developing countries in the Doha round, which aims to reduce global trade barriers.
Labour representatives had come to the headquarters here of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), under whose auspices the negotiations are being held, to argue their case following the publication of new compromise draft texts.
The Doha Development Round, launched in the Qatari capital in November 2001, has foundered in disputes between developing and industrialised nations over trade in agricultural and industrial products.
A number of developing countries, notably India, Brazil, South Africa and Argentina, have criticised demands from developed nations looking for new outlets for their industrial goods.
They contend that they must protect nascent industrial sectors that were already hurt by trade-opening measures thay had to adopt before joining the WTO.
In South Africa, Dicks told a press briefing, the lowering of customs duties on textiles meant "that there was the closing of 126,000 jobs from 1995 to 2006.
"Seventy per cent of the workers were women," he added.