European Christian NGOs recently met Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank, in Brussels to criticise the way in which the World Bank is approaching the negotiations in the agricultural sector at the World Trade Organization. The World Bank published a research paper which was subsequently withdrawn. The document tackles the question of “special products”, i.e. the request by the developing countries to draw up a list of products fundamental for their food self-sufficiency, to be exempted from tariff reductions and to be protected through a special mechanism of safeguard. “The recognition of these special products – stressed the NGOs – would help the poorer countries to defend themselves from dumping, i.e. the low-cost importation of agricultural products mainly from Europe that are damaging the already fragile local economies” in the developing world. The criticism of the NGOs is that the World Bank “conducted a research project that contains grave and serious shortcomings”. “In this way the World Bank ignores the priorities of the most disadvantaged countries”. In ought, instead, “to assume its responsibility for accuracy by ensuring as wide as possible participation of the experts of the countries involved”.
