WDM is an outstanding organisation - independent, clever in its campaigning, meticulous in its research, and angry. Its important work deserves our support.
John Pilger, author and activist
Sign up to E-NewsTrade justice, not free trade
Pictured: Fishermen prepare their nets in Shenge, Sierra Leone
Introduction
We believe that everyone has the right to feed their families, make a decent living and protect their environment. But right now the rich and powerful are pushing aggressive free trade deals onto poor countries that put profits before these basic human rights.
Economic Partnership Agreements
One recent current mechanism for this attack has been the European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. Led by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, the EU is trying to force poor countries to:
- Level import tarrifs, so that rich countries can import their products to developing countries without restriction. This threatens to destroy local industries which are not yet strong enough to compete.
- Permit a free trade in services – which would enable Western multinationals to take over public services like water and electricity, something which has been proven to fail the poorest.
Situation update: January 2008
Due to widespread criticism from WDM and other organisations, many EPA negotiations had stalled by the end of 2007. Now Peter Mandelson has his sights set on reigniting the Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks, which had similar aims to exploit poor country markets.
Beyond this, the European Commission has recently published a paper called Global Europe, setting its sights on so-called middle income countries. The overwhelming majority of people in many of these countries still live well below the poverty line. Aggressive free trade along the lines of Global Europe will only deepen these problems, which is why this will be WDM’s major focus for 2008.
Watch this space…
Free trade and Scotland
Although Scotland does not have devolved powers relating to international trade, WDM calls on the Scottish Parliament and Government to support education and public debate around these issues and to use their influence wherever possible at Westminster and in the EU. Scotland can also give greater budget support through its international development strategy to NGOs in developing countries that hold international processes like free trade negotiatitions to account.
Previously – MSPs Vote for Trade Justice
At the new Scottish Parliament on 27 October 2004, over 300 activists turned out to watch a huge majority of MSPs, representing all the political parties, voting for trade justice. The event, compered by Elaine C. Smith, was a huge success with 83 MSPs 'voting' in favour of fairer trade rules, scrapping rich-country export subsidies and regulating big business.
We must continue to build on this commitment in Scotland.
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