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Fairtrade News |
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BLAIR SAYS FAIR TRADE TALKS ARE 'CRITICAL'The World Trade Organisation meets in Hong Kong next month (December) to agree a new deal on fair trade and Prime Minister Tony Blair says it will be a disaster if ministers fail to reach an agreement. The original aim of next month’s meeting was to pass new rules for delivering fairer trade terms for the poorest countries in the world. But some political leaders have already said the gulf between different nations is too wide for an agreement to be reached. Talks were held in London last month to move the process on before the Hong Kong summit but there was little progress. One African politician said the process had just “gone round and round” with no result. Mr. Blair acknowledged it would not be easy to come to an agreement but said it would be a missed opportunity that could damage trade prospects in wealthy economies and the developing world. He said: “For the poorest countries whose labour costs are low but who often find the very high tariffs selling into the wealthy countries’ markets, it is essential if they’re to stand on their own two feet that they’re allowed access into our markets. "This is an absolutely critical moment of decision for the whole World Trade Organization. If we don't get significant movement in Hong Kong and subsequently there is a danger that the round fails. That would be disastrous for economies, both developed and developing." Oxfam is campaigning for representatives at the World Trade Organisation summit to change the rules that it says are “rigged against the world’s poorest farmers, pushing them deeper and deeper into poverty”. And Sir Bob Geldof, whose ‘Live 8’ concert in July raised millions of pounds to help fight world poverty, has sent a personal email message to two million people urging them to put pressure on the World Trade Organisation. His message says: “We HAVE to change the unfair trade laws so that people in extreme poverty have a chance to build themselves a future.” He wants people to email European trade commissioner
Peter Mandelson and tell him to “do everything he can, and
more, in the interests of the poor”. Call or email us now on 0845 6120 690
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