D: Hi there, Alison.

A: Hello, Dave.  Long time, no see.  What’ve you been up to?

D: Oh, this and that.  Research mainly.

A: Researching what?

D: The WTO.

A: World Trade Organization.

D: Yes.  It’s all part of this project I’m doing on globalization.

A: Oh, yeah.  We did that last year.  What do you make of it then?

D: Well, it’s not exactly the most caring of organisations, is it?

A: What do you mean, Dave?

D: WTO rules favour the larger companies from wealthy countries.

A: In what way?

D: Well, by prohibiting protection through discriminatory tariffs, it’s hard for poor countries to build up domestic industries.

A: That may be the case.  But I’m sure that’s not a deliberate policy.  Anyway, you could argue that the rules laid down by the World Trade Organisation don’t exactly help smaller companies from the richer nations either.

D: Why not?

A: Well, many companies in wealthy countries, especially textile and clothing producers, oppose globalization because they can’t compete with cheaper imports made in countries with lower production costs.

D: Like China.

A: Exactly.

D: Ah.  And that’s another thing.

A: What is?

D: Democracy.  The WTO isn’t the most democratic of organisations, is it?

A: Why do you say that?  You know, all of the WTO’s rules have to be ratified by member states and all decisions are reached through consensus.

D: Yes, but all those decisions are made behind closed doors.

A: Maybe, Dave.  But I still believe that the WTO is a force for strengthening democracy throughout the world, as it encourages international trade and therefore the exchange of ideas and beliefs, including democracy.

D: I can’t see how you arrive at that conclusion, Alison.  No, if you ask me, it’s quite the opposite.  The WTO actually weakens the democratic process, because it allows the formation of enormous multinational organisations that are richer and more powerful than some countries.  And that can’t be good.  When it comes to global democracy, the WTO has a weakening effect.

A: I suppose you’re going to tell me that the WTO should regulate international companies over pollution next.

D: And so they should.  The WTO allows global companies to locate pollution-producing industries in poor countries.

A: This idea is nonsense, Dave.  Why would a company choose to relocate a whole plant to the other side of the world?  The cost would be enormous.  It would be much cheaper for the company to clean up the existing plant.

D: Maybe, but look at the extensive logging of the rainforests, Alison.  You must agree that the WTO should regulate that?

A: The WTO’s regulations allow for countries to protect such natural resources.  What does worry me is the way agricultural seed companies focus on high-yield, disease-resistant plants at the expense of other plants.  This policy is destroying plant biodiversity and that can only spell trouble.  No, these seed companies need regulating.

D: Well, at least we’re agreed on something.  Fancy a cup of coffee?

A: Only if it’s Fairtrade.

D: What?  In this place?  You’ll be lucky.  Come on…