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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>** Request for organizational endorsement **<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Dear Friends, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='color:black'>Despite the overwhelming need for governments around the world to focus their full efforts on saving lives during the coronavirus pandemic, some governments are still pushing forward negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) as well as in bilateral and other trade negotiations.<span class=apple-converted-space> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span lang=ES-UY style='color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:6.0pt;caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span lang=ES-UY style='color:black'>We are calling on governments to: “<b>Stop all trade and investment treaty negotiations during the COVID-19 outbreak and refocus on access to medical supplies and saving lives.”</b></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: auto;text-align:start;widows: auto;-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px'><span lang=ES-UY style='color:black'>We are further calling on governments to: End unilateral sanctions; ensure that countries have the flexibilities to set aside trade rules that constrain their ability to resolve the pandemic; and to<span class=apple-converted-space> </span>re-think of the types of rules that are negotiated in trade agreements, including those that can encourage monopolies and reduce affordable access to all forms of medical supplies, and put at risk the lives of people in every country of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>PLEASE register your ORGANIZATIONAL endorsement here <b>BY midnight in Washington, DC on Wednesday April 29th,</b> if you have not already: </span><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://form.jotform.com/200974262608356">https://form.jotform.com/200974262608356</a>. </span><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Thursday, April 30th, we will send the final letter to WTO delegations in Geneva, and send it to our media contacts. <i>We will also send all endorsers a final copy of the endorsed letter that day.</i> My apologies that this is getting to many of you so late. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Thank you,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Deborah James for </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) global network<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>US organizations endorsing the letter as of April 28:<o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=655 style='width:491.5pt;margin-left:-13.5pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>354<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>Citizens Trade Campaign<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>355<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>356<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>Institute for Policy Studies, Global Economy Project<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>357<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>National Family Farm Coalition</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>358<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>Public Citizen<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:29.5pt'><td width=75 valign=top style='width:56.05pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>359<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=425 valign=top style='width:318.45pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>The Oakland Institute<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=156 valign=top style='width:117.0pt;padding:0in 3.5pt 0in 3.5pt;height:29.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;line-height:normal'><span lang=ES-BO style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO'>United States<o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='color:black'>Some background: (A memo is attached which details why negotiations are inappropriate at this time). </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The WTO actually convened a meeting on April 17, to discuss whether to hold negotiations on a virtual basis. <b>We sent an early version of the attached letter with the endorsements we had as of that date, and heard from many WTO delegations that it did have an impact on the meeting</b>. Many countries argued against holding talks on binding rules at this time, and especially virtually, but some argued in favor of continuing with business as usual. Unfortunately, rather than acknowledging the lack of consensus to negotiate, the Director General stated that he would continue consultations – seemingly intending to pressure countries to agree to negotiate on a pre-Covid liberalization agenda, when they should be focused on saving lives. You can see press coverage of the meeting <a href="https://www.twn.my/title2/wto.info/2020/ti200413.htm">here</a> and <a href="https://www.twn.my/title2/wto.info/2020/ti200414.htm">here</a>. </span><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The possible date of another discussion on the subject has not yet been announced, so we have to do all we can to solidify opposition among as many delegations as possible. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Based on this outcome, we are expanding our outreach to invite more organizations to oppose negotiations in the WTO during the pandemic. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>According to <a href="https://www.twn.my/title2/wto.info/2020/ti200414.htm">this media coverage,</a> the US position is as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='line-height:15.0pt'>“<span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>The US, which spoke after these four countries, delivered a nuanced statement saying that the US is comfortable with the convening of informal meetings and virtual meetings which are feasible and appropriate, said trade envoys, non-attributively.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:15.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>US Ambassador Dennis Shea said it “would be premature to look for horizontal process at this point of time (as) that can create unnecessary problems at this juncture,” said several trade envoys.</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:15.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>As for taking decisions, Ambassador Shea said the US doesn’t have a clear view on how to conduct work by remote engagement, including the decision-making process, said trade envoys, who asked not to be quoted.</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=ES-UY style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>--<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Deborah James<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) network<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.ourworldisnotforsale.net">www.ourworldisnotforsale.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Director of International Programs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Center for Economic and Policy Research<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>1611 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20009<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>+1.202.441.6917<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.cepr.net/">www.cepr.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>