[ssf] Trade worries

[Chris Malins]

"So far progress in services negotiations in the Doha Round has been
slow," said European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson. "We need to
ensure that services negotiations match the ambition of other
negotiating areas such as agriculture."

Says commissioner Mandelson about an 'improved' set of EU services 
liberalisation requests. A somewhat worrying statement, given that 
agricultural reform is highlighted as a key measure to alleviate world 
poverty and assist developing countries, whereas many organisations are 
concerned that increased pressure on developing nations to liberalise 
services will tend towards a reduced ability of developing country 
governments to regulate supply of vital services in line with policy 
objectives for the public good, and will transfer influence to large 
transnational companies.

Chris