There are a number of theories going around about the demise of the WTO talks. Mine are here but a couple of others worth noting are by Martin Khor, here and Devinder Sharma. I particularly like Devinder's take - which shifts the blame entirely toward the US reluctance to give up cotton subsidies. It's something we got to discuss a little when Devinder helped to launch Stuffed and Starved in Delhi last week (thanks Devinder!). I'm not sure I agree that the elections in India has nothing at all to do with the outcome, but we're both agreed that soon enough, the talks will be back from the dead. Indeed, if the Third World Network is to be believed, the corpse of the talks is already being revivified by Lula and Lamy.

Meanwhile, just to bust a hole in the Third World vs First World narrative that some have tried to spin around these talks, here's a press release from the US National Family Farm Coalition, applauding their demise... ... read more »

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Posted on 18 August, 2008 - 16:53