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By Norman Solomon The news should have caused a national uproar. In a decision with momentous implications, the new World Trade Organisation ruled that the US law known as the Clean Air Act is unacceptable because of restrictions it places on pollutants in imported gasoline. The decree could result in higher levels of toxic auto emissions. "This is a major blow to the ability of the United States to protect public health", said a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. But, when the news broke in mid-January, it was a fleeting blip on the media screen. Follow-up coverage has been almost impossible to find. The White House preferred that the story disappear, pronto. After all, the World Trade Organisation owes its existence to the GATT trade pact that President Clinton pushed through Congress in late 1994. Back then, Clinton vowed that the accord would not interfere with US anti-pollution laws. His trade representative, Mickey Kantor, even claimed that the GATT agreement "will help improve environmental protection". Yet, in the wake of the WTO's outrageous ruling on January 17, leading Republicans were not well positioned to turn it into a campaign issue. Senator Bob Dole has lamented the enormous power of the WTO, but he voted to create it in the first place. So did Phil Gramm and Richard Lugar, the other senators seeking the GOP presidential nomination. Publishing magnate Steve Forbes has always been enthusiastic. Among this year's major candidates for president, only Patrick Buchanan opposed the GATT treaty. And he has a tough time sounding righteous about the WTO's assault on the Clean Air Act. Buchanan happens to despise federal regulations that protect the environment. On Capitol Hill, most Democrats — eager to cover for Clinton — are remaining silent about the WTO's action. Stymied by public opinion that has forced congressional Republicans to back off from efforts to gut laws like the Clean Air Act, many corporate polluters now view the World Trade Organisation as a godsend. Multinational oil companies are quietly savouring the WTO's decision. They see big dollar signs ahead, with surging US imports of dirty gasoline from outmoded foreign refineries. What about environmental organisations? The sad truth is that the largest ones have gotten into the habit of muting their voices in deference to the White House. One of the most independent advocacy groups — Public Citizen, founded by Ralph Nader — has not minced words. "Under the WTO, countries and their democratically elected representatives are very limited in what they can do to implement and enforce environmental objectives", says Lori Wallach, director of the group's Global Trade Watch. Because of the WTO ruling on gasoline, Wallach told me, the United States must make "an unacceptable choice between allowing more polluted air or facing enormous sanctions — $150 million a year". Welcome to global "free trade", WTO style.
[From PeaceNet.]