WTO Ministerials

The “Our World Is Not For Sale” (OWINFS) network is a loose grouping of organizations and social movements worldwide fighting the current model of corporate globalization embodied in global trading system. OWINFS is committed to a sustainable, socially just, democratic and accountable multilateral trading system.

Statement of political unity

WTO Turnaround statement

11th Ministerial, Buenos Aires 2017

Post-Ministerial Analysis: Results of the 11th ministerial conference of the WTO: English, Spanish (April 2018)

The Peoples’ Summit parallel to the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference: English, Spanish (April 2018)

Our World is Not for Sale (OWINFS) one-page flyer (December 2017)

Media information

Our World is Not for Sale (OWINFS) Final Statement on MC11: English, Spanish. (December 13, 2017)

Media release (Dec 13, 2017):
Global civil society reactions to end of WTO ministerial conference: English, Spanish.

Media release (Dec 13, 2017):
On last day of WTO Ministerial, civil society distributes urgent recommendations to delegates attending heads of delegation meetings: English, Spanish.

Media release (Dec 11, 2017):
Civil Society Protest at the Entrance of the WTO 11^th Ministerial in Buenos Aires

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Civil Society / NGO Contacts for MC11 WTO Ministerial Dec 10-13, 2017

Global Civil Society Shares What’s at Stake at MC 11:

A Positive Outcome for Development at the MC11 in Argentina?
Video from the side event organized by OWINFS on Sunday, Dec 10.

OWINFS side event:

Tuesday, December 12, 10:15 – 11.45am: Protecting the Development Mandate in Agriculture and Fisheries-Subsidies negotiations in MC11

Argentine Government Revokes World Trade Organization’s Accreditation of Key Civil Society Organizations, Just Days before Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires

November 30, 2017: In an unprecedented action, the Argentine government has revoked the accreditation of 63 civil society experts -- trade unionists, development advocates, digital rights activists, environmentalists, and others -- just days before the 11th Ministerial meeting of the WTO (MC11) in Buenos Aires, advising the WTO that the experts will not be allowed in the country to participate in the meeting. The majority of the rejected organizations work together through the global Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) network.

Full media advisory: English, Spanish, French. (November 30, 2017)

Letter to the WTO: English, Spanish, French. (November 30, 2017)

December 2, 2017: For information on the public outcry about the above, and on how the Argentine government is justifying their actions, see e.g. here: English, Spanish.

Follow-up letter to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the WTO (December 3, 2017)

December 7, 2017: Letter from the European Commission expressing concern and asking for the decision to be reversed.

December 8, 2017: El gobierno de Macri deporta a periodista inglesa crítica de su gestión por haber entregado información de argentinos para Big Data (Sally Burch deported)

December 10, 2017: Statement by Sally Burch: English, Spanish.

December 13, 2017: Open letter on civil society rights

About the Agenda of the WTO

Letter from Global Civil Society about the Agenda of the WTO: English, Spanish, French, Greek. (9 October 2017)

Analysis of key issues for the 11^th WTO Ministerial

MSME associations reject MSMEs work program and ecommerce rules in WTO: English, Spanish. (13 December 2017)

Statement by women’s rights organisations rejecting the WTO Declaration on Women’s Economic Empowerment. (12 December 2017)

Rebuttal to “The WTO Investment Facilitation Initiative: Why It Matters” – background note: Investment Facilitation for Development: Opening the doors of the WTO for hard rules on investment. (12 December 2017)

Is “gender” a Trojan horse to introduce new issues at WTO?. (10 December 2017)

A deadly irony for people’s economic rights as WTO opens talks on International Rights Day. (10 December 2017)

Analyses of Domestic Regulation Disciplines. (7 December 2017)

What Africa wants at MC11. (7 December 2017)

Fisheries subsidies negotiations: English: pdf, doc. French: pdf, doc. Spanish: pdf, doc. (2 December 2017)

“Domestic regulation” rules in the WTO: English: pdf, docx. Spanish: pdf, doc. (1 December 2017)

The fourth industrial revolution will deepen the digital divide. Alliance Sud Position on the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference: English, French. (1 December 2017)