Fair Trade not Free Trade say Trade Justice campaigners

Tens of thousands of trade justice campaigners have told over 500 British MPs how poor countries need trade rules weighted in their favour, during the UK's biggest marathon political lobby from 27th-28th June.

Across the country, MPs have met constituents in surgeries or at special trade justice events. Many have pledged their support to the campaign, which is calling for a re-write of global trade rules in favour of poor people and the environment, when countries meet at a world trade summit in Cancun, Mexico in September. The UK government is supporting an extension of the WTO remit to cover investment and other issues. Trade Justice campaigners believe that these new rules would restrict the right of poorer countries to regulate investment in order to promote their own economic development, and that there is no evidence that free trade lifts people out of poverty.

In Swindon on Saturday 28th June almost a hundred people attended a Trade Justice lobby of Swindon's 2 MPs, organised by Swindon World Development Movement, at the Pilgrim Centre, Swindon.

Both MPs agreed with campaigners that poorer countries have major concerns they want to see addressed at the WTO about their need to access cheap drugs and medicine in the fight against HIV, and about the West's protection of agriculture. Michael Wills MP spoke out forcefully against the Common Agricultural Policy saying that although the latest agreement on reform was a step forward, it was still nowhere near enough and did not for instance cover sugar at all which was a major concern of Third World countries. Julia Drown pointed out that European cows get more in subsidies per day than 2 billion people have to live on.

Other questions focussed on democracy, ranging from points about the validity of holding such negotiations at the WTO, the pressure being exerted on the WTO by big business, and the inability of poorer countries to participate fully, to the feeling of disaffection many people had with politics and the failure of governments to listen. Both MPs urged those present to continue to write letters and maintain pressure on them about such crucial matters which can otherwise get lost in a morass of other political issues.


Neither MP however accepted the main argument of campaigners that the extension of WTO powers would be a threat to poorer countries, and insisted on the contrary that the WTO could be a force for good.

Swindon WDM spokesperson Chris Thackray said "Although we are grateful to our MPs for coming to the meeting and listening to the arguments, we still feel there is a gap between their views and ours. The government's support for a free trade agreement on investment is incompatible with its claim to be pursuing a development agenda in international trade. The world's poorest countries don't want it, and virtually every development group in Europe doesn't want it. In fact the only voices for this agreement are international business lobbies. So, it makes us wonder on whose behalf is our government acting?"

Anyone interested in joining Swindon WDM to campaign on these and similar issues should contact local secretary Kate Nash on 704154.

• The World Development Movement works to tackle the root causes of world poverty. Through its ground-breaking campaigns it wins positive change for the world's poorest people. WDM has over 20,000 members and 100 active local groups. Anyone interested in joining Swindon WDM should contact Kate Nash on 704154.
  
  
• The Trade Justice Movement is a fast-growing coalition of over 40 organisations who are calling for fundamental change to the unjust rules and institutions governing international trade so that trade is made to work for all. Members include: Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, National Federation of the WI, OXFAM, the TUC, World Development Movement.