Anti-Globalization Movement in Retreat in Cancún

Cancún, Mexico, September 13, 2003—The Anti-Globalization Movement is in retreat at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Ministerial meeting; and advocates of open trade now have an opportunity to make real progress toward lowering trade barriers and increasing economic opportunities for poor people around the world, according to the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s three NGO delegates attending the Cancún meeting.

“Although the anti-globalizers and other protectionist interests are here in huge numbers, they’re on the defensive. We don’t know what the final ministerial declaration will say. Increasingly, though, the hopes of the world’s poor are being heard above the shouting by those who want to deny poor countries the opportunities offered by increased trade,” said Fred Smith, president of CEI.

“Hungry people don’t reject food and progress,” said Gregory Conko, director of food safety policy at CEI. Conko participated in the distribution of two tons of food aid to a poor village in Quintana Roo on Friday. Environmental protestors tried to scare the villagers, telling them the food was poison because some included GM ingredients, but the villagers eagerly accepted the food and asked for more.

“Environmentalist NGOs have special reason to be disappointed by the talks. Developing nation delegates are resisting the eco-imperialist policies being foisted on them by well-funded environmentalists from the U. S. and Europe. As World Bank studies show, when countries grow richer, their environmental quality improves,” said Myron Ebell, director of global warming and international environmental policies at CEI.