las empresas mandan: ¿quién paga la cuenta?

The document argues that the WTO's 'free trade' framework is systematically biased toward transnational corporations, which use privileged access to governments in the US, EU, and Japan to shape global rules. Through case studies, it illustrates how this influence leads to the forced adoption of GMOs, restricted access to essential medicines, the privatization of water and energy, and the undermining of international environmental agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The authors call for a halt to current negotiations and an independent assessment of the social and environmental impacts of trade liberalization.

• Transnational corporations use lobby groups to pressure the US government to challenge EU restrictions on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at the WTO, prioritizing corporate market access over the 'principle precautorio' (precautionary principle).
• The WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS/ADPIC) restricts access to affordable generic medicines in developing countries by enforcing 20-year monopolies for pharmaceutical companies.
• Corporate interests are attempting to use the WTO to subordinate Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to trade rules, potentially limiting the ability of governments to legislate for the environment.
• The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS/AGCS) facilitates the privatization of essential services like water and electricity and makes these privatizations 'irreversible', as seen in the cases of Suez in Uruguay and Endesa in Colombia.
• Investment rules, such as those in Chapter 11 of NAFTA/TLCAN, allow corporations to sue governments for public interest regulations, as demonstrated by Metalclad's successful suit against Mexico over a hazardous waste landfill and Philip Morris's threats against Canada regarding tobacco labeling.
• The 'revolving door' between industry and government, such as the appointment of a Monsanto consultant as deputy Director General of the WTO, ensures that corporate agendas are embedded in international trade negotiations.

APA

Sullivan, D., Doherty, A., Hall, R., & Hoedeman, O. (2003). las empresas mandan: ¿quién paga la cuenta? Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/businessrules-esp.pdf

Chicago

Sullivan, Damian, Ann Doherty, Ronnie Hall, and Olivier Hoedeman. las empresas mandan: ¿quién paga la cuenta? Friends of the Earth International, 2003. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/businessrules-esp.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sullivan |first1=Damian |last2=Doherty |first2=Ann |last3=Hall |first3=Ronnie |last4=Hoedeman |first4=Olivier |title=las empresas mandan: ¿quién paga la cuenta? |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=August 2003 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/businessrules-esp.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sullivan2003las, author = {Sullivan, Damian and Doherty, Ann and Hall, Ronnie and Hoedeman, Olivier}, title = {{las empresas mandan: ¿quién paga la cuenta?}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2003}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/businessrules-esp.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }