Press Release Cancun Forum on Communication Rights vs. 'Free Trade' Tuesday, September 9th In the Ex Palenque 10:00am - 12:00pm Press conference: Monday, September 8th, 9am, Coco 4 Contacts: International: Sasha Costanza-Chock: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> - (011) 52 998.890.4768 Mexico: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> - 998.887.8167 This September at the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Cancun, the US Trade Representative has proposed to expand the WTO's power over media and culture. The US wants to submit Communications and Audiovisual Services, including film, radio, television, video, and music production, as well as media distribution services such as satellite, cable and broadcast, to the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). This would spell disaster for vibrant media systems worldwide: public funding for media, including mass, alternative, community, and citizens' media, could be attacked as "barriers to trade." Media ownership limits, as well as laws and initiatives that encourage diverse, locally-owned media, could be considered outright trade violations. Public funding for cultural and artistic production could also come under attack. On September 9th, representatives from the Movements assembled in Cancun will meet to denounce the idea of surrendering media and culture to the WTO or any other 'free trade' agreement, and to strategize on how to build the international movement for Communication Rights. Members of the press are encouraged to attend a press conference the morning of Monday the 8th, to attend this event, and to arrange interviews with representatives of the Communication Rights movement during the WTO Ministerial. Background In Cancun, trade ministers from 146 countries will continue negotiations on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Critics argue that this agreement is used to override the democratic process, weaken national laws, and undermine public interest regulations around the world through trade mechanisms that favor the privatization of every sector of life and the sale of all public services - including education, health care, electricity and water, just to name a few - to the world's largest, most powerful transnational corporations. Requests to include Communication and Audiovisual Services in GATS - film, radio, television, video, and music production, as well as media distribution services such as satellite, cable and broadcast - have been put forward before. To date, many countries have resisted these requests and fought for an (albeit limited) exemption from GATS known as the 'cultural exception.' So far, this stopgap has kept many media and cultural services out of the agreement. If Communications and Audiovisual Services do find their way into GATS this September, the repercussions will be severe. Certain measures taken by governments to defend or build media localism, diversity, and pluralism could be classified as 'barriers to trade;' other WTO member nations would be able to attack them using the binding dispute mechanism of the WTO. Decisions on 'trade disputes' made by the WTO are enforced by international law - member nations must comply with WTO rulings or face multi-million or -billion dollar punitive sanctions. A variety of measures crucial to delivering high quality public service broadcasting would be seen as clear violations of GATS rules, including limits on media ownership, specific restrictions on foreign media ownership, public service obligations, and rules regarding cross ownership. Even if a country exempts its broadcast regulations and programs that support media and culture from the current round of negotiations, the goal of GATS is "progressive liberalization." This means that there would be strong pressure to discard such exemptions in future, built-in negotiations. In addition, efforts to improve regulatory structures would be impaired, since the legally binding trade obligations of GATS virtually "lock-in" the regulatory status quo. Any adjustments to regulatory structures that would change country commitments under GATS would require compensation to all trading partners. At a time of such dynamic change in the regulatory environment for media and broadcast, this would be a public policy disaster. For these reasons, concerned citizens in many nations (including the European Union) have so far successfully lobbied their governments to reject US proposals on Communications and Audiovisual Services, and to block agreements that could impact their nations' media systems. People everywhere recognize that a free, diverse, local, and independent media system is a fundamental requirement for a functioning democracy, and that ensuring such a media system requires regulation in the public interest as well as support for public service, local, nonprofit and independent media. Organizers: AMARC - World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters CENCOS Centro de Medios Independientes Cancun COMCOSUR CRIS - Communication Rights in the Information Society Free Press Global Project Las Agencias OURMedia/NUESTR@Smedios Clemencia Rodriguez Associate Professor Department of Communication University of Oklahoma 610 Elm Ave Room 101 Norman OK 73019 [log in to unmask] Phone 405 325 1570 Fax 405 325 7625