Business-Managed Democracy

• Introduction

• National Government

• International Coercion

• Privatisation

• The Trade Agenda

• Trade in Services
• GATS
  • Implications
  • Telmex Ruling
  • Offers and Requests
• Early Business Lobbies
  • American Express
  • CSI
• Financial Services
  • Gaining Support
  • Business Lobbying
  • Ongoing Goals
• Business Coalitions
  • British Invisibles/ LOTIS
  • Financial Leaders Group
  • European Services
  • Global Services Network
  • Lobbying Networks
• Business Strategies
  • Targeted Services
  • Front Nations
  • Encouraging Offers
  • Touting Benefits
  • Access
• References


 

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Business-Managed Democracy » Government » Trade in Services » Business Coalitions » Free Trade Lobbying Networks

Business-Managed Government

Free Trade Lobbying Networks

Reference: Robert Vastine, 'Trade Remedy System under the WTO Framework: Functions and Mechanism, the Role of Trade Associations', Paper presented at the 2002 Annual Conference of the Advisory Committee of the Shanghai WTO Affairs Consultation Center and 2002 WTO Forum, Shanghai, 5-7 November 2002, p. 1 ; W. K. Chan, ‘Preparing for Services 2000’, Global Services Network, June, 1998; ‘Global Services Network’, Global Services Network, 2003; ‘Global Services Network Formed; Services 2000 Issues Agreed’, Global Services Network, 26 April, 1998.

The proliferation of trade in services groups and coalitions originated with American Express in the US and British Invisibles in the UK. Key people such as Harry Freeman from AmEx and Leon Brittan and Andrew Buxton from  BI and  Barclays Bank were active in forming and leading these coalitions, which had a close relationship with each other and overlapping memberships.

Reference: ‘About ESF’, European Services Forum, 2003; Erik Wesselius, Erik, Behind GATS 2000: Corporate Power at Work, Amsterdam: Transnational Institute, 2002, p. 9 .

All these business coalitions work closely together for similar goals which is perfectly understandable given their common origins and overlapping membership and leadership. For example, FLG press releases include contacts from CSI, British Invisibles and ESF. CSI and IFSL continue to jointly administer the group. In fact CSI has a hand in all but the European-based LOTIS groups and the ESF. The ESF nevertheless works closely with the CSI and has a similar, if less strident, agenda.

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