The World Trade Organisation is one of the most powerful – and most controversial – organisations in the world. It makes the rules for global trade, but increasingly its rules are affecting the domestic laws of many of the world's countries.
Since the massive protests against it in Seattle in 1999, every one of it's ministerial meetings have been subject to civil society protests. To many it symbolises an economic system is the cause of great injustice both domestically and internationally.
But few people know much about the WTO. What is it? Why does it exist? Who runs it? Who sets its agenda? Who is it accountable to?
This hour-long forum will unravel the mysteries of the WTO, provide a critical analysis of what goes on behind its closed doors, and explain why you should care.
You can listen to a recording of the evening here (61 Meg MP3 file)
Jagjit Plahe (Monash University) Jagjit Plahe is an activist from Kenya, currently based at Monash University where she coordinates the international trade policy unit. Jagjit has a strong NGO background and over ten years of campaign and research experience in the area of international trade policy and social justice. She is the author of the book "The MAI - National Sovereignty for Sale?" and numerous other articles and papers. Jagjit has attended four WTO ministerial conferences to date, and is able to provide an interesting account of changes in the global civil society response to the injustices of the international trading regime.
