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The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization

The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization. By Teddy Casiño July 28, 2006. Pop: 85 M 7,100 islands Colonized by Spain (400 years) and US (44 years) Vibrant people’s movement that has ousted two presidents Strong anti-imperialist, anti-fascist tradition in the people’s movement

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The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization

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  1. The Philippine struggle against neoliberal globalization By Teddy Casiño July 28, 2006

  2. Pop: 85 M • 7,100 islands • Colonized by Spain (400 years) and US (44 years) • Vibrant people’s movement that has ousted two presidents • Strong anti-imperialist, anti-fascist tradition in the people’s movement • Constitution contains nominal protectionist provisions

  3. Philippine FTAs and BITs • 38 Bilateral Trade Agreements • First with Pakistan in 1961 • Latest with Thailand in 1999 • 13 agreements made since 1994 • 37 Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements • First with UK in 1980 • Latest with Portugal in 2002 • 30 agreements made since 1994

  4. Standard contents of RP FTAs • MFN Treatment and Exemptions • Exceptions and Safeguards • Payment Arrangements • Trade Promotion • Dispute Resolution • Joint Trade Committees

  5. But bulk of RP trade is with USA and Japanwhich have no FTAs • USA • Bilateral trade agreement on tariff concessions as part of RP’s ascension to GATT (1980) • Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed in 2002 • FTA in initial phase of negotiations

  6. Bulk of RP trade is with USA and Japan • Japan • FTA currently being negotiated to include: • Trade in Goods • Rules of Origin • Customs Procedures • Paperless Trading • Emergency Measures • Trade in Services • Movement of Natural • Persons • Investment • Mutual Recognition • Competition Policy • Intellectual Property • Gov’t Procurement • Cooperation • Improvement of the • Business Environment • Dispute Avoidance and • Settlement • General and Final • Provisions

  7. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s 70s and 80s – debt accumulation, debt trap Early 80s – trade liberalization under IMF (LOIs, MEPs) Early 90s – structural adjustment programs (liberalization, privatization, deregulation)

  8. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s Mid 90s – membership in WTO – unprecedented, unilateral cuts in tariff rates – neoliberal policies are institutionalized (AGILE group funded by US-AID) 1996 – RP hosts APEC Summit, globalization hailed as the “next wave to development” 1997 – Asian currency crisis, Charter change push 2004 – fiscal crisis, renewed Cha-cha

  9. Neoliberal policies in RP stretch back to the 1980s The Philippines became a dumping ground for excess goods and capital from industrialized nations, a source of cheap labor, raw materials and semi-manufactures. With the Philippine economy one of the most liberalized in the ASEAN region, FTAs have become almost superfluous.

  10. People’s resistance to imperialist globalization • Debt reduction campaigns (calls range from repudiation, cancellation to cap on payments) • Anti-SAP campaigns • People’s Campaign Against Imperialist Globalization (APEC meetings) • Junk WTO campaign • WTO out of agriculture • Food sovereignty

  11. People’s resistance to imperialist globalization • Against large-scale, commercial mining • Against dams and other “development projects” • For fair trade • For water access • Against high power rates • Against deregulation of oil industry • Anti charter change campaign

  12. The anti-neoliberal campaigns are closely linked to campaigns against fascism and militarism (vs. imperialist plunder & war)

  13. Forms of struggle • Propaganda and education campaigns • Rallies and mass demonstrations • Networking and formation of alliances • Participation in official processes • Lobbying, negotiations • Initiatives in Congress • Filing of court cases • Armed struggle, peace talks • International solidarity work

  14. Some concrete gains • Stop/delay in mining operations • Stop/delay in “development projects” • Stop/delay in privatization programs • Constitution has not been amended yet • Congressional investigations • Mining Act declared unconstitutional but later reversed • Some tariffs raised • Imperialist globalization is constantly under challenge

  15. Problem areas • How to popularize issues, broaden resistance while raising the issues to the anti-globalization, anti-imperialist level • How to sustain mass mobilizations • Struggle against reformism and cooptation • Dealing with big capitalists, landlords and bureaucrats/politicians • Dealing with black propaganda and fascist attacks

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