1. WTO and China Agricultural Liberalization and the Peasantry Luk Tak Chuen Department of Sociology Hong Kong Baptist University

2. The Public Hearing of Agreement of Agriculture in Geneva, 2003 Right to Food, Food Sovereignty Right to Food, Food Sovereignty Global Regulation of food and agricultural dumping Global Regulation of food and agricultural dumping Oppose the hypocrisy of Developed Countries, i.e. US, EU （ You liberalize, we subsidize ） Oppose the hypocrisy of Developed Countries, i.e. US, EU （ You liberalize, we subsidize ） Demand US and EU to open markets Demand US and EU to open markets To regulate the global commodity markets, stabilize market volatilities, i.e. coffee To regulate the global commodity markets, stabilize market volatilities, i.e. coffee

3. The Public Hearing of Agreement of Agriculture in Geneva, 2003 Prevent the proliferation of GM products and the risks posed to bio-diversity, bio-safety and local knowledge and production Prevent the proliferation of GM products and the risks posed to bio-diversity, bio-safety and local knowledge and production Prevent the oligarchy of global Agri-business, exploitation of peasants through agricultural sub- contracting Prevent the oligarchy of global Agri-business, exploitation of peasants through agricultural sub- contracting Emphasize the multi-functionality of agriculture, prevent the dangers of commercialization posed to family and community disorganization, local economy, traditional and indigenous cultures, cultural and bio- diversity, and ecological protection Emphasize the multi-functionality of agriculture, prevent the dangers of commercialization posed to family and community disorganization, local economy, traditional and indigenous cultures, cultural and bio- diversity, and ecological protection

4. The Public Hearing of Agreement of Agriculture in Geneva, 2003 Women ’ s voices and gender issues are ignored in trade negotiations Women ’ s voices and gender issues are ignored in trade negotiations Trade rules should be overrided by the UN conventions of Economic, Social and cultural rights, and bio-diversity conventions 。 Trade rules should be overrided by the UN conventions of Economic, Social and cultural rights, and bio-diversity conventions 。 Developed countries used agricultural negotiations as baits for developing countries on Singapore issues: Services, government procurement Developed countries used agricultural negotiations as baits for developing countries on Singapore issues: Services, government procurement

5. International Civil Society ’ s statement towards AoA To stand up to the fact that Agro-businesses are the forces distorting the world agricultural markets To stand up to the fact that Agro-businesses are the forces distorting the world agricultural markets Adopt the principles of food security and food sovereignty, respect the rights of development countries to adopt measures to protect peasants from the volatile international markets, and the rights of food production in fostering communal life and traditional culture. Adopt the principles of food security and food sovereignty, respect the rights of development countries to adopt measures to protect peasants from the volatile international markets, and the rights of food production in fostering communal life and traditional culture.

6. International Civil Society ’ s statement towards AoA Allow countries to use import control or tariff to target dumping goods Allow countries to use import control or tariff to target dumping goods Demand the multi-lateral trade negotiations to pledge on protecting employment and livelihood of developing countries, especially the vulnerable groups and women Demand the multi-lateral trade negotiations to pledge on protecting employment and livelihood of developing countries, especially the vulnerable groups and women To regulate the structural imbalance between developed and developing countries in agricultural trade, i.e. food trade To regulate the structural imbalance between developed and developing countries in agricultural trade, i.e. food trade

7. WTO Accession and the Chinese Peasantry Chinese negotiator Long praised Premier Zhu ’ s Sudden Intervention and Achievement Chinese negotiator Long praised Premier Zhu ’ s Sudden Intervention and Achievement Premier Zhu ’ s uncertainties and worries Premier Zhu ’ s uncertainties and worries The vulnerabilities of three aspects of the peasantry in confronting WTO: agriculture, rural communities, and the peasantry The vulnerabilities of three aspects of the peasantry in confronting WTO: agriculture, rural communities, and the peasantry

8. Comparative Advantage and Disadvantage Comparative Advantage vegetableXXX fruitXX NutsXX teaXX Aqua-productsXX MeatXX tobaccoX riceX

9. Disadvantaged cottonX wheatXX cornXX Soy bean XXX oilXXX sugarXXX Diary products XXX Forestry products XXX

10. Two and half years after accession into WTO Food security Food security –Import impact not obvious –Serious loss of arable, food supply decreases, food price increases –Serious impact on food shortage areas The impact of agricultural commodities import The impact of agricultural commodities import –Impact on Sugar Cane growers –Impact on fruit growers under the impact of Early Harvest Program in China-Asean FTA. –Rural re-structuring sporadically increases output

11. Issues Problems in Rural Re-structuring Problems in Rural Re-structuring – Neglect the impact on peasants’ livelihood and changing to alternative production – Government’s coercion and orders in forcing peasants to follow – Irrational investment, neglecting market and technical problems – Intensive national and international competition – Risky agricultural investment

12. Issues Problems of agro-business + peasants Problems of agro-business + peasants – Unequal status – Government on the side of agro-businesses Problems in peasants’organizing in production and market bargaining Problems in peasants’organizing in production and market bargaining – Unable to bargain with agro-business

13. Issues The problems in health and sanitary standards of agricultural exports The problems in health and sanitary standards of agricultural exports – Serious violation of food safety standards in pesticides and anti-biotics – Threats to bio-diversity and ecology Problems of providing domestic support Problems of providing domestic support – Peasants’ levies too high – Inadequate support to peasants

14. Issues Migration, gender differentiation and community dis-organization Migration, gender differentiation and community dis-organization – Men as migrants, women stay behind – Impact on traditional communities – Impact on indigenous cultures

15. Issues Deprivation of Land,water and Natural Resources Deprivation of Land,water and Natural Resources – Massive urbanization, land deprivation and displacement of peasants – Massive industrial pollution of land and water Mega-development projects: generate electricity in the West and sell to the East, massive dam displacement; generate electricity in the West and sell to the East, massive dam displacement; selling gas from the West and sell it to the East: land displacement by pipeline construction selling gas from the West and sell it to the East: land displacement by pipeline construction Oil and Coal Exploitation: damage arable land and ecology Oil and Coal Exploitation: damage arable land and ecology – Tourism development of Nature Reserve

16. Issue Violation of the Rights of Peasants Violation of the Rights of Peasants – Right to Economic autonomy against government and agro-businesses – Sustainable livelihood – Rights to land, water and natural resources