November 16, 1999

On July 15 as part of the International Day of Action against the WTO, a group of activists approached City of Oakland local officials with a request to pass a resolution against the sweeping powers of the World Trade Organization. This evening (Tues. Nov. 16), the Oakland City Council unanimously passed the following resolution expressing opposition to the policies of the WTO that are undermining local economic development initiatives (such as the Buy California bill that Gov. Davis vetoed because he claimed it was WTO-illegal), environmental protections and democratic citizen rights.

This is an important step in drawing the line in the sand against free trade policies that are benefiting multinational corporations at the expense of local needs. The City of Oakland should be commended for taking a bold stance in favor of fair trade policies that support workers rights, the environment, and democracy. Hats off to Rosalyn Faye for making this possible. Thanks to the folks from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Women's Economic Agenda Project, EarthJustice Legal Defense Fund, Sierra Club and the California Fair Trade Campaign for coming out tonight and supporting this effort to make Oakland a Fair Trade Zone!!! Stop the WTO! End Corporate Rule!

Please contact Rosalyn at 415-558-9486 ext 351 or rmfay@hotmail.com if you would like a packet of info on how to pass a similar resolution in your hometown.

Juliette Beck
California Fair Trade Campaign

Resolution of the City Council of the City of Oakland to Oppose Expansion of the Powers of the World Trade Organization during the Seattle Ministerial Meeting

WHEREAS, the World Trade Organization, (WTO), established in 1995 and with a current membership of 134 nations, will be meeting in Seattle from November 30 through December 3rd, 1999 for their fourth annual Ministerial to decide whether or not to launch a "Millennium Round" of international trade negotiations, and

WHEREAS, the negotiations of the WTO are conducted by Trade Ministers and a Trade Representative charged with excluding officials representing other interests such as public health, labor rights or environmental protection; and

WHEREAS, trade and investment disputes are resolved at the WTO by non-elected panels in an undemocratic process which has the authority to override local, state and federal law, is outside and above U.S. courts; and

WHEREAS, in all 100 cases brought to the WTO in the last four years, the dispute panels have favored corporate interests over public interests and have overruled domestic laws protecting the environment, human health, endangered species and local economies, and

WHEREAS, past WTO rulings have sanctioned the European Union for protecting its population from the health risks of hormone-fed beef, weakened the US Clean Air Act regarding air pollutants in gasoline, and undermined U.S. laws protecting dolphins and sea turtles from extinction, and

WHEREAS, The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), which will likely be reintroduced at the Ministerial meetings in Seattle, could supercede existing constitutional interpretations of a government's regulatory rights under the Fifth Amendment and restrict new regulation by state and local governments; and

WHEREAS, The "National Treatment" concept of the WTO could prohibit the use of domestic procurement preferences and subsidies and other benefits to local businesses for the purpose of encouraging local economic development; and

WHEREAS, The "Most Favored Nation" concept of the WTO could prohibit Congress, state legislatures, and city councils from using trade sanctions to punish nations such as Burma for human rights abuses, violations of labor standards, and political persecution; and

WHEREAS South African President Nelson Mandela might still be in prison today if the WTO had existed when governments, including Oakland's, were passing divestment ordinances against South Africa's former apartheid regime, and

WHEREAS, even the mere threat of WTO sanctions has already interfered with local lawmaking and led Governor Davis to veto a bill that would have provided a five percent preference to California businesses in the state government procurement process, and

WHEREAS by attacking domestic laws, the WTO is actually dismantling the democratic process under the guise of a trade pact, and

WHEREAS, a broad and growing global movement has formed to challenge the WTO's ability to establish free trade rules that threaten human health, fragile ecosystems, labor and human rights, democratic institutions and local economies; and

WHEREAS, the City of Oakland, is the home to a major seaport and is actively interested in the promotion of international trade as a means to improve the quality of life for all people and not as means for creating a race to the bottom on public health standards, environmental protection and labor rights;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Oakland to oppose the further expansion of the powers of the WTO to overrule the sovereign policies of nations, states and local governments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Oakland become a signatory to the "Statement from Members of International Civil Society Opposing a Millennium Round or a New Round of Comprehensive Trade Negotiations" and calling instead for an assessment of the WTO's policies and actions to date;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that November 30 be proclaimed a day of protest against the sweeping powers of the World Trade Organization.