[mobglob-discuss] Pettigrew: "anti-globalization has completely disappeared"

[Gordon Flett]

International trade minister pronounces end of anti-globalization
movement
LES PERREAUX

QUEBEC (CP) - The anti-globalization movement that continues to rock
major economic summits with violent protests is finished, International
Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew pronounced Friday.

"I draw great satisfaction out of the fact that the phenomenon of
anti-globalization has completely disappeared," Pettigrew said.

Although the recent Group of Eight summit in Evian, France, drew up to
50,000 protesters and included several violent incidents, Pettigrew
insisted the nature of the protests has changed.

"I have noticed their steam has petered out," Pettigrew said.

Protesters stress alternative forms of globalization rather than
attacking the entire concept as they did a few years ago in Quebec City
and Seattle, he said.

"There has been a major change in tone," he said.

"The anti-globalization movement has realized that globalization could
help everyone, in the south and poorer people in all societies."

Pettigrew was in Quebec City, the scene of anti-globalization riots
during the Summit of the Americas in 2001, to announce that Ottawa will
spend $24 million to help smaller countries adapt to an anticipated
free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere.

The money will help countries adapt to new tariff and food-safety
systems, along with other projects to help small nations take advantage
of the anticipated Free Trade of the Americas agreement.

"I believe globalization has to be humanized," Pettigrew said. "I
believe that is what we are doing now."

Pettigrew said the efforts of Canada and other countries to "humanize"
trade and improve the transparency of agreements have helped make
international trade more acceptable to activists.

The new trade agreement would create a free trade zone throughout the
Western Hemisphere, excluding Cuba. Scheduled to go into effect in
2005, the agreement among 34 countries in the Americas would create the
world's largest free-trade zone.

Several Latin American countries have said they will not be willing to
sign the agreement by the 2005 deadline unless they get greater access
to the United States agricultural market.

Pettigrew said he is confident the deal will be concluded by the
deadline.