The Collapse of the Doha World Trade Talks

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This week's Economist magazine says the trade talks started in Doha, Qatar after September 11 were designed "as proof that a prosperous and united world could rise above Islamist terrorism." Political leaders had the chance to make the world better off despite the latest Middle East violence, the magazine says but, "they failed." President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have both called for renewing the talks, which collapsed a week ago. We look at why the talks were suspended, whether they can be restarted before it's too late, what powerful farm lobbies had to do with it, and whether they were really a good deal for poor third-world countries after all. We're joined by journalists, economists, the farm industry, diplomats and human rights advocates, including the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Los Angeles Times' article on Iraqi demonstration supporting Hezbollah

World Trade Organization (WTO)

Doha development agenda

Economist article on the future of globalization

Weisman's article on role of farm lobby in failure of Doha trade talks

Realizing Rights on equitable trade

Associated Press article on Israel's latest incursions into Lebanon

Economist analysis on Middle East conflict

Daily Star article on Prime Minister Siniora seeing little chance of early peace

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney