Today came out in Brazilian newspapers a statement from the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs stating that the first phase of the Doha meeting was “useless” and that the proposal of Europeans was a “staging”. Is it exaggerated?

In brief, the Doha round want to promote the most ambitious opening of world trade; started in 2001 and since then is paralyzed. Countries like India, Brazil, South Africa and Argentina has stalled negotiations because do not agree with the European proposals. Currently, Brazil and India lead the G20 and are giving much headache for Europeans and Americans.

The reason that leads the G20 to oppose the proposals of developed countries is very simple. Basically the rich countries advocating greater access to emerging markets for its manufactured products, thus open up their markets for agricultural products. In other words, they want to buy bananas and sell cars. Do you think it’s fair? I don’t.

Moreover, the rich countries want to maintain agricultural subsidies, main reason for the high price of food in the world. The issue of subsidies is something serious, because it is related to the problem of illegal immigration.

If the subsidies were overturned, many countries could generate more jobs for their people, reducing the flow of illegal immigrants who try to enter in the rich countries. So while there are high subsidies, there will be no solution to the issue of illegal immigration.Simples as that.

The development of agriculture in many African countries is the best solution to reducing poverty in that continent. And while rich countries maintain their subsidies, the misery will continue to affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Without real proposals, no deal. Perhaps anyone should tell France, England and United States that Imperialism is something from the past.