Trade Target: Develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory, includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction— nationally and internationally
In Uganda, Simon sells the harvest from a few parched coffee plants that his parents planted before their death. He has no access to global markets or opportunity for a fair price. For every $1 paid for tea at a supermarket, less than 15 cents goes to people in the country where the tea was grown.
You’ve probably heard about fair trade – coffee, tea, chocolate and bananas are some of the well known fairly traded products that you may have bought. Buying fairly traded goods is just one way of ensuring that producers in developing countries are getting a better deal. In fact, there are many ways that trade needs to change to ensure that justice is done for the poor.
Many of our current trading policies are weighted against developing nations, preventing millions of the world’s poorest people from escaping poverty. It is the rich countries that have all the power in negotiating these policies and they use it to secure deals which benefit themselves and are unfair – costing poor countries an estimated £1.3 billion every day.
Right now new trading policies called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are being negotiated between the European Commission and seventy-six countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). When EPAs first came out, they were promoted as a tool for development. So at the heart of these agreements should be using trade to lift poor countries out of poverty.
However, as they currently stand, EPAs actually threaten the economic development of ACP countries by forcing them to open up their markets, losing the freedom to use the selfsame economic policy tools that more advanced countries themselves used in their development. Development experts warn that unless things change, EPAs could put countless local farmers and industries out of business and threaten the livelihoods of millions.
The deadline for concluding these negotiations is 31st December. Urgent action is needed to ensure that ACP countries are not forced to sign agreements that threaten their development. Please send a letter to your MP asking them to raise the level of attention given to EPAs in the House of Commons, and to encourage the UK to exert more influence in the EC before it’s too late.
Lord God,
You have called your people to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with you. We pray that the negotiations around Economic Partnership Agreements may reflect your will. Inspire negotiators to seek more just trade rules. Give them a heart for the poor, that they may seek to protect the most vulnerable. And grant that in all things, they and we may seek to walk in your ways and follow your commands.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
You can make a difference to the debate on global trade.
The deadline for concluding trade agreements between the European Union and countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) is only weeks away, but the proposed content is still set to threaten the sustainable development of the world’s poorest countries.
Please take action now and send the letter below to your MP. We need to make the most of the time remaining to encourage the UK government to take on board our concerns and represent these at the European Commission (EC).
Your MP will be able raise the level of attention given to EPAs in the House of Commons, and encourage the UK government to exert more influence with in the EC.
This Christmas, make one of your gifts a fair trade gift and use it to tell someone else that fair trade benefits 7 million people in developing countries.
Christmas cakes, chocolates, mulled wine and biscuits are just some of the fair trade products readily available online or in high street shops. Look out for the Fairtrade mark, which guarantees the product meets international fair trade standards.
Commit to giving a fairly traded gift this Christmas and passing on the message of fair trade
Increase the impact – invite someone you know to join you in Taking Five to stop unfair trade regulations.
