Mary Robinson Says US Reform of Cotton Subsidies Is a Human Rights Issue
3 December 2004
International Delegation Meets with Struggling Farmers in Mali
Bamako, December 3, 2004—Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has linked US reform of its agricultural subsidies regime to the human rights of African farmers at a press conference in Bamako today. Mali is one of four West African countries leading the fight for cotton subsidy reform at the World Trade Organization.
Robinson traveled with the international agency Oxfam to Mali to meet with farmers, cooperatives and government representatives to see first hand how US policies are denying African farmers the benefits of globalization as well as their economic and social rights. Ms. Robinson is accompanied by a high level international delegation, including James Adams, World Bank Vice President for Operations; Dr. Claude Martin, Executive Director of the World Wildlife Fund; Lydia Maximus, former European Senator and Board Member of the Association of Western European Parliamentarians for Africa; Father Andrew Small, US Council of Catholic Bishops and Raymond C. Offenheiser, President of Oxfam America.
"The human rights of West African farmers are threatened by the continuous dumping of US cotton causing world prices to fall." said Robinson, who is the Honorary President of Oxfam International. World cotton prices reached an all time low in 2001 and are currently plummeting again after a brief recovery, putting huge pressure on government revenues and farmer incomes. "Women who labor all day to harvest the cotton crop by hand are unable to meet the basic needs of their families. The G8 meeting in July provides northern governments a unique opportunity to address the urgent need for agricultural subsidy reform. "
The United States government regularly spends up to $4 billion a year in subsidies to the cotton sector, with 78% of the subsidies going to the largest 10% of US cotton producers. Subsidized US cotton then floods onto world markets, pushes prices down by up to 30 percent and jeopardizes the survival of African cotton farmers, who are among the world's most efficient producers. Oxfam estimates that US dumping created losses of almost $400 million for poor cotton-producing African countries between 2001 and 2003. On current price trends Mali could face a deficit on cotton revenues of up to 70 billion FCFA (nearly US $150 million) in the coming year.
In a recent WTO ruling, the majority of US cotton subsidies were declared illegal. "The WTO ruling has validated the demands of farmers and governments in West Africa," said Ray C. Offenheiser, Executive Director of Oxfam America, who joined Robinson on the trip. "The US should take a hard look at its WTO commitments, swiftly implement the ruling, and negotiate new rules that would stop dumping." Oxfam International's Make Trade Fair campaign is pushing for an end to agricultural including cotton dumping by the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial in December 2005.
