Whose Trade Organization?: The Comprehensive Guide to the Wto

by Lori Wallach, Patrick Woodall, Ralph Nader

Book Overview

Many people are surprised when they first learn that trade is only a small element of the World Trade Organization, but the WTO actually covers a huge array of subjects never before included in trade agreements. The new agreements that were born with the WTO almost nine years ago included 800-plus pages of rules that interfere with food safety standards, environmental laws, social service polices, intellectual property standards, government procurement rules, and more.

Whose Trade Organization? is the definitive guide to the reign of this undemocratic "trade" regime that has sparked protests from Seattle to Quebec to Genoa. With case-by-case studies, the book exposes the lopsided agreements and secret tribunals that are the tools of the WTO's trade, and reveals the aggressive corporate agenda at its core. This myth-busting guide explains cutting-edge conflicts over rainforest destruction, genetically modified foods, sweatshops, lifesaving drugs, and many other global issues. And it offers critical and timely prescriptions for challenging the WTO and building a public-centered, democratic alternative.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565848411
• ISBN13: 9781565848412
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: New Press
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Looking on WTO info? This is the one!

Just what are all those protesters so upset about, anyway? This book will tell you. It's a quick, accurate, well-composed book examining the effects of the WTO on developing countries' poverty, health care, natural resources, and human rights. This review doesn't need to be lengthy: Look, there are lots of books on the WTO. If you want the accurate summary to understand this issue simply, this is it.

An alternative perspective

This book did a wonderful job of thoroughly covering dispute cases and pointing out structural flaws in the WTO. The writing style was easy to understand and appealed to a broad audience.

WTO - the real antichrist!

A MUST read for all citizens and government employees! We have been sold down the river. All of our health, safety, environmental, labor, and manufacturing policies have been compromised by the dictates of the WTO. The only ones benefitting from this organization are multi-national and U.S. mega-corporations and rich countries. They can challenge any and all policies of any country in which they feel there is trade discrimination. Wallach and Sforza do a fantastic job of documenting numerous instances.