by Morgan Read
Between Empires Conference, Auckland, 2003

New Zealand's decision to enter minimal cultural reservations in its General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitments in the audiovisual sector was taken in the knowledge that this sector had become particularly controversial. by Morgan Read
Between Empires Conference, Auckland, 2003

New Zealand's decision to enter minimal cultural reservations in its General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) commitments in the audiovisual sector was taken in the knowledge that this sector had become particularly controversial.The debate between the US and Europe had become very heated as the US demanded Europe dismantle its cinema and television quota systems, while Europe demanded a cultural exception to the GATS. New Zealand hoped that its action would lead to good will from our trading partners that might be exploited by our agricultural sector. It appears a large measure of our culture was sold for the hope of better butter sales, and on the unquestioning assumption that all free trade is good trade.

Click on the link to finish this story Morgan Read on Cultural Diversity

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The NZ Coalition for Cultural Diversity (NZCCD) sent its chair, Peter Shannon Executive Musicians Union) to the first meeting of international cultural coalitions in Halifax, Canada on 28 March. A International Secretariat to coordinate cultural coalitions was forme at that meeting. It will begin publishing an E-mail newsletter to provide updates on WTO GATS, UNESCO, bilateral trade talks, and reports on activities of existing coalitions along with news of new coalitions as they are established. The first issue will allow for a report on the outcome of the UNESCO Executive Board meeting April 4-16. Reportedly, the proposal concerning the convention on cultural diversity will be discussed by a committee from the 9th through the 14th, going to plenary session for a decision on 16th. April 21st will be the first publication of the newsletter.

The NZCCD is asking all those who work in the cultural industries to lobby their MPs to support withdrawing culture from our international trade agreements. It wants the government to answer these questions:
1) What exactly is the NZ Government offering up in the current GATS round that could negatively impact on our ability to protect and develop our cultural industries?
2) Is the Government willing to amend the current GATS schedule to exclude cultural services?
3) Will the Government join its peers in signing the International Instrument on Cultural Diversity (this is intended to act as a counter-balance to any international trade agreements on cutlure such as GATS and WTO).
For more information contact Peter Shannon on 025 793 644 or drumsing@xtra.co.nz

In response to the growing international movement against cutllure being included in international trade agreements, an Entertainment Industry Coalition for Free Trade was formed in the US last month, with support from the US Trade Representative Robert B. Zoelick who celebrated its launch on Capitol Hill, Washington. International sales accounted for just over half of the US entertainment sector's half a trillion US dollars in sales last year. Foreign sales and exports by the copyright industries (which includes the film and television sector) in 2001 were estimated at US$88.97 billion, surpassing all other major industry sectors. Between 1997 to 2001, these industries annual employment grew more than three times faster than the rest of the economy, demonstrating the huge impact this sector has for the US in terms of jobs, investment and exports. However, this growth is dependent on the US's ability to achieve global standards of copyright protection and enforcement as well as international market access.

Hence, one of the Coalition's prime aims is to increase market access through the elimination of tariffs for all US entertainment products. It aims to prove that by rejecting 'cultural exception' clauses in trade agreements these can be 'constructed to incorporate commitments on opening up service markets and address specific related cutlural concerns at the same time.' The Coalition's members include: AOL Time Warner; EMI Recorded Music; News Corporation Limited; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc; Warner Bros and the Warner Music Group; Interactive Digital Software Association; New Line Cinema; Motion Picture Association of America and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.