(We are here reproducing a press statement issued by the Central Committee of CPI(ML)-New Democracy on September 17, 2003 on the collapse of Cancun Ministerial Meeting.             – Editor)

5th Ministerial Meeting of WTO at Cancun ended in failure due to “irreconcilable differences” between developed (imperialist) countries and developing (third world) countries. The collapse at Cancun was inevitable due to intensifying economic offensive of developed countries against the third world countries. At Cancun they wanted greater access to the markets of third world countries without providing third world countries access to their own markets even to the extent agreed to by them earlier

For developed countries globalization has been and continues to be a one way process i.e. securing for them control over natural resources, cheap labour power and markets of third world without giving them reciprocal advantages. Rich countries' stand on the agricultural subsidies, textiles and movement of labour and professionals is ample evidence of it.

WTO has been crisis-ridden from beginning due to sharp clash of interests between developed and developing countries on the one hand and among the developed countries on the other. While Seattle failure was primarily due to the clash of interests among developed countries, Cancun collapse is due to stiff resistance put up by third world countries who did not  accede to the demands of the imperialist countries to further open up their markets. It was African and Caribbean countries who had put up the strongest resistance. The Indian representative was willing to compromise on some aspects prejudicial to the interests of third world including India.

Cancun Ministerial Meeting has once again proved that WTO is a forum dominated by the imperialist countries and no decision against their interests or interests of their giant MNCs can be taken.

While the people of third world countries and the common people of developed countries have only to rejoice over this collapse, it is time that third world countries pull out of WTO and repudiate the agreements arrived under WTO. We therefore demand that India should quit WTO and mobilize other third world countries to do the same.

People of third world countries should also remain vigilant as it has been decided that discussions shall be resumed at official level on Dec. 15, 2003. Imperialist countries would blackmail/pressurize third world countries to break their unity and make them agree to their conditions. A powerful people's movement is necessary to prevent the Govts. of these countries from compromising under the pressure.

In view of collapse of Cancun meeting on which Indian Govt. had pinned its hopes, we demand that all measures taken in pursuance of WTO agreement should be rolled back e.g. lifting of quantitative restrictions etc. and domestic industries and agriculture should be given due protection. All concessions given to MNCs should be immediately withdrawn.