Has the World Trade Organisation failed poor countries? | Counting the Cost

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has come under renewed criticism for failing poor and developing countries with talks on agricultural trade unable to yield a breakthrough in more than 14 years.
Nations including Kenya, India and Pakistan have been calling on the WTO to force developed countries to phase out subsidies paid to farmers whose overproduction is threatening the livelihoods of farmers in the developing world.
Many analysts have argued that negotiations at the WTO have remained largely dominated by traditional economic powers such as the US and EU with discussions failing to deliver promised change.
Some point to the failure of western governments to conclude what's known as the 'Doha Development Agenda' which has kept agricultural economies in Africa trapped in poverty.
The Doha Development Agenda, which began in Qatar in 2001, is a series of trade negotiations with the broad aim of reforming the international trading system through the introduction of lower trade barriers and revised trade rules.
But 14 years on, some of the biggest of those issues - agriculture tariffs and farming subsidies - remain unresolved.
Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz, the CEO of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development joins Counting the Cost to discuss whether the Doha Round should be scrapped.
Global arms industry continues to boom
The international arms trade is continuing to boom, with trade at its highest level since the end of the Cold War.
Worth more than $400 billion a year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), around 100 companies control the trade with 64 of them based in either the US and Western Europe.
While the US is the world's biggest exporter with 54.4 percent of the market, German and Swiss sales have grown to 9.4 percent and 11.2 percent respectively.
Increasing instability in the Middle East and Asia has prompted an arms race between Iran and the Gulf States, while a similar situation between Pakistan and India has prompted both countries to stock up on huge amounts of weapons.
Pieter Wezeman, a senior researcher with the SIPRI's arms and military expenditure programme joins the show to discuss who's buying what weapons.
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[@leileicai6913]

why not African leaders just learn how Chinese get their people out of poverty and hunger? Don't just take China money, but these African leaders should learn how China can grow, learn their policies and determination.

[@lenniefei6710]

+Leilei Cai Be informed,they are under the shackles of the "donor community," "bilateral financiers" and "development partners",many African leaders who tried that were toppled so Africa is at a real cross road at the moment with the acute thirst for development and servitude to their colonial pacts and financial aids received since independence.

[@DonegalRaymie201]

You miss the point: China achieved its' incredible growth WITHOUT Aid and Development money: They did it FOR THEMSELVES!
But it seems Africans can't do likewise........

[@fakeapplestore4710]

DonegalRaymie201
and it seems like you've never been in a classroom before

[@priyabrataroy3564]

Dear Brother, All Asian nation must stand in the same line to get protected from European Capatalists . Who design conspiracy to Grab our land our Labour,our natural resources and ofcourse our domestic market. WTO is a Conspiracy of European Whites.

[@priyabrataroy3564]

China may have differences with India. But India is not enemy of China. The real enemy is USA, France, Italy,etc.

[@rustyfox301]

Now ask yourself this ; Who is buying all of those war arms ? Why ? What are they going to be used for ? And on whom will be receiving the blunt end of those Deadly weapons ? Now go back and ask , WHY ?

[@leonardoburrows5056]

X9
XX
🐮🐮🐮🐗🐮🐅🐅🐯🐗🦌🐮🐗🐅

[@rustyfox301]

Why in a country with so much land to farm do they need food supplies from other countries ? Isn't the idea to feed your OWN PEOPLE FIRST ??? The trade can wait !!! Feed your people !!!!

[@rustyfox301]

Self interest fuels the mind Not the body . It's a sad thought . And yet we are to listen to such childish acts as our peers ? No wonder we haven't been able to achive peace , Nobody wants it ! That doesn't make money . When the time comes , these people will be the ones whom will have to answer to All of our woes . Sad

[@rustyfox301]

+King Luke do u Not know where your Oil came from ? Think u need to Rethink your comment

[@DonegalRaymie201]

Just look at the case of Zimbabwe, to answer your own question: From the 'Breadbasket of Africa' to the 'Basket case', thanks to Mugabe and his thugs!

[@lana98742]

Many developing countries are in debt to developed countries. Often their farm lands don't belong to them, but to big corporations

[@misterlyle.]

Ortiz did not provide useful comments.

[@lvdox21]

Spelled organization wrong in title

[@MedCreativityPlant]

Yeah, but it is the "World Trade Organization".

[@daiskideyobros57]

It's the British spelling, technically correct.

[@mariamjf7677]

@@daiskideyobros57 its the AlJazeera based in England