December 20, 2005
THE NEW ALIGNMENT IN ACTION:
A fateful finale at WTO (Keith Bradsher, 12/19/05, The New York Times)
What changed in those 30 hours was the result of a series of deals by ministers from around the world who stayed up all night in nonstop talks.
The European Union, faced with being blamed for a collapse of negotiations, changed course and introduced a crucial proposal on agriculture.
India, the champion of the developing world since the days of Gandhi but now a computer programming power as well, played a crucial intermediary role in persuading poor countries to accept portions of the agreement calling for freer trade in services like telecommunications and banking.
And the Venezuelan delegation, forced to decide whether it would bring the entire negotiations to a halt over its objections to the provisions on services, backed down at the last moment and allowed the Hong Kong Declaration to be approved by consensus.
So our ally (India) was key and the bad guys (EU and Hugo) lost. Posted by Orrin Judd at December 20, 2005 8:52 AM
Comments
Once you lose the United States as the main object of demonization, and you're faced with posturing against India and other developing nations, the public relations value in being obstinate declines sharply.
Posted by: John at December 20, 2005 9:42 AMThat soft power sure packs a wallop!
Posted by: jeff at December 20, 2005 9:48 AM2013 - Kyoto ends in 2012.
I was hoping the sugar cartel would be smashed sooner.
Posted by: Sandy P at December 20, 2005 9:51 AM