The participants of the meeting noted that liberalized mining policies promoted by the World Bank and International Financial Institutions since the late 80s in mineral-endowed countries have distorted national policies and laws on mining to profit the large transnational mining corporations without adequate benefits to the mineral-endowed nations.

As a result of such liberal policies, many LDC mining exporting countries have witnessed an increase in mineral exploitation and export without an increase in GDP, or increase standard of living from the increase mineral exploitation. NGOs from countries like Peru, Indonesia, The Philippines, Kenya and Ghana, all noted the increase human rights violations and distortion of livelihood, plus environmental degradation all due to liberalized mining policies in their countries.

In summary, the NGOs concluded that increased mining activities in their respective countries had benefited a few people whilst contributing and even worsening the standard of living of the majority of the people.

Having witnessed the harmful and disastrous effects of global liberalized mining practices, the International mining caucus agreed to oppose and protest further liberalization in mining through the ongoing GATS and NAMA negotiations.

They plan to denounce further liberalization in mining by holding a protest demonstration to the 6th WTO talks at Victoria Park Hong Kong on the 16th of December at 12 pm. As a follow up to the protest march, the international mining caucus, is further drafting a statement to the WTO officials and their respective governments to end all NAMA and GATS negotiations in order to prevent further liberalization in them mining sector.