What needs to be done?
Campaigning organisations, such as the Trade Justice movement, are insisting that what is needed is 'trade justice' rather than 'free trade'. They claim that poor countries are suffering under unfair trade rules, that put the needs of the rich first and confine the poor to continued poverty. Trade can be used to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty, if the rules are rewritten in favour of the people in most need. These fundamental changes to the world trading regime will require strong political will and long-term commitment.
These are some of the actions that need to be taken to achieve trade justice:
- Rich countries need to remove barriers to imports for low-income countries.
- Agricultural export subsidies must be banned, to end the cycle of overproduction and export dumping by rich countries.
- IMF-World Bank loan conditions must end, to stop forcing poor countries to open their markets.
- Poor country governments should be allowed to protect their domestic producers - (e.g. tax cheap imports, encourage companies to use local products before imports, give contracts to local companies to supply hospitals, schools etc). This would ensure food security and secure livelihoods.
- Prices for primary commodities should be stabilised at higher levels, and higher prices paid to small farmers.
- Global trade policies should not undercut internationally agreed social and environmental standards, and companies must be held responsible for their social and environmental impacts.
- The WTO should be made more democratic, giving poor countries a stronger voice. All countries must have equal access to trade negotiations. Agreements should also favour poor countries, so they have a better chance of using trade as a way out of poverty.
Click here to find out how you can get involved in the campaign for trade justice.