Gary Grumble wants the Ref to get out the Red card

“What’s happened to Gary?” I’ve heard people say Well mind yer own OK.

I feel like having a big grumble about the World Trade Organisation, I pick my victims carefully you see. The W.T.O. was supposed to introduce harmony and help traders around the world import and export in a fair and visible way, getting rid of what they called “Non Tariff barriers” such as obscure documentary requirements, pre-shipment inspections etc. and stamping out counterfeiting. The W.T.O opened its doors in 1995 and in the 16 years since then they have achieved some good things such as the complaints procedure.

So what is bugging me ? well to start with a recent statistic shows that in 2010 EU Customs seized more than 103 million products suspected of violating International Property Rights (IPR) The number of suspect shipments rose to almost 80,000 up from 43500 in 2009. China accounted for 85% of IPR infringing products.

China is a member of the W.T.O. and signed up to comply with their rules – Not doing too well are they?

On the same track Brazil is a member of the W.T.O. yet a recent article in “The Economist” issue dated September 24^th-30^th 2011 entitled “Protectionism in Brazil – A self made siege” recounts some severe protectionism obstructing trade with Brazil, for the full details get the article.

My grumble is that if the W.T.O. is serious about fair trade and compliant attitudes from its members why isn’t it getting tough with the transgressors, in football terms we are using the yellow card when it should be a straight red . Let’s hear from you--- do you agree.