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About us

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

WTO Reform & Process

Statements and analysis from civil society

At WTO “Public” Forum, critics sidelined in favor of neoliberal echo chamber. (12 September 2024)

Letter to WTO DG: Meeting request. (9 September 2024)

Letter to WTO DG: Concerns about how the WTOPF24 is being organised this year and how this will impact meaningful participation of civil society voices. (17 July 2024)

WTO reform, systemic issues and JSIs: what is on the table at MC13?. (28 February 2024)

WTO loses legitimacy as affected communities, CSOs shut out of normal participation at MC13 in Abu Dhabi (28 February 2024)

WTO D-G abuses authority to try to get WTO-illegal Investment Facilitation adopted at MC13. (27 February 2024)

NGOs call for free speech to be restored at WTO Ministerial in UAE: English, Spanish. (26 February 2024)

Civil Society at WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi call for pro-development outcome, end to WTO expansion agenda. (OWINFS briefing, 26 February 2024)

Dispute settlement reform: The informal process and the way forward after MC13. (Kinda Mohamadieh, TWN, 22 February 2024)

Commentary on the draft text of the informal discussions on dispute settlement reform. (Kinda Mohamadieh, TWN, February 2024)

Global unions statement to the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12). (14 June 2022)

Proposed WTO reform aims to bully developing nations: Civil society members. (Himanshu N, Down To Earth, 13 June 2022)

WTO: DG espouses reforms based on Northern priorities inimical to South. (D. Ravi Kanth, 29 April 2022)

South must ensure no "take-it-or-leave-it" decisions at MC12, by D. Ravi Kanth. (27 April 2022)

Looking towards WTO MC12: What’s on the table for developing countries and LDCs? English, Spanish, French. (Kinda Mohamadieh and Ranja Sengupta, April 2022)

LDCs mustn’t be burdened with onerous WTO accession commitments. (D. Ravi Kanth, 21 January 2022)

WHAT’S COOKING FOR MC12? Two processes that could reshape the WTO in the interest of the most powerful: English, Spanish. (14 November 2021)

Substantive and legal implications of the JSIs for development and strengthening the multilateral trading system (Civil Society Event at the WTO Public Forum, 1 October 2021)

Global Civil Society Calls for a WTO Turnaround: New Multilateral Trade Rules for People-Centered Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Development (2021): English, Spanish, French. (27 September 2021)

Why the Joint Statement Initiatives Lack Legal Legitimacy in the WTO, by Law Professor Jane Kelsey, a rebuttal to a previous document by Hamid Mamdouh, “Plurilateral Negotiations and Outcomes in the WTO.” Resumen en español. (22 June 2021)

Over 200 organizations from 67 countries say: “Fundamentally transform the WTO: The WTO’s own policies have caused its existential crisis, which the COVID-19 crisis only amplified”: English, Spanish, French. (CSO letter, 28 April 2021)

Letter to WTO Director General from members of Our World Is Not for Sale. (26 April 2021)

Letter from 400 organizations from more than 150 countries to WTO Members: Stop all trade and investment treaty negotiations during the COVID-19 outbreak and refocus on access to medical supplies and saving lives: English, Spanish, French. (30 April 2020)

Call to halt fisheries subsidies negotiations in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis: English, Spanish, French.
(1 April 2020)

Response from WTO DG Azevêdo. (6 April 2020)

As WTO dispute settlement system collapses, civil society calls attention to need for fundamental change in global trade. (9 December 2019)

Notification and transparency issues in the WTO and the US’ November 2018 communication. (Aileen Kwa and Peter Lunenborg, South Centre research paper, March 2019)

Why the US proposals on development will affect all developing countries and undermine WTO. (Aileen Kwa and Peter Lunenborg, South Centre policy brief, March 2019)

US’ section 301 actions: Why they are illegitimate and misguided. (Aileen Kwa and Peter Lunenborg, South Centre research paper, September 2018)

30 November 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.