Advocating for a fair global trade system

Published on Thursday, 24 November 2011

CRA Justice Network Coordinator, Sister Suzette Clark reflects on the recent APEC meeting in Hawaii, and the need for trade justice.

Trade Justice

Trade justice requires a fairer and more democratic global trade system, based on human rights and environmental sustainability.  The campaign for trade justice lobbies for changes to the rules and practices of world trade so that all people and the environment benefit.  It is estimated that half of the world’s population lives on less than $2 a day.  For all nations to benefit, appropriate intervention in markets is necessary as opposed to no or little government role in free markets.

As described in a United Nations Report practical plan to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, food aid and emergency relief do not solve the problem.  What is needed is assistance in investing strongly in improving agricultural activity, in public health institutions for prevention and treatment of disease, and in environmental management. 

Among other recommendations, the report called upon high-income nations to open their markets to developing country exports and to help increase export competitiveness through investments in trade-related infrastructure such as electricity, roads and ports.  Sachs, the author of the report, also argued that there is no single remedy. "Development will depend on trade and aid and dropping the debt," he wrote. "It is not trade versus aid, it is not trade alone or aid alone."
J. Sachs, Investing in Development: a practical plan to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, UN Jan. 2005

Often some nations are bullied into accepting unfair trade rules at a multilateral or bilateral level.  At the recent APEC Meeting, some Asia-Pacific nations refused to be coerced into signing an agreement that will not benefit them.

APEC Meeting & the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement

The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a proposed new regional free trade agreement that aims to further liberalise the economies of the Asia-Pacific region.  An agreement between New Zealand, Chile, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam is to be expanded to include the United States, Australia, Peru, Vietnam and Malaysia, with several others including Japan expressing interest in joining.

Official negotiations began in Melbourne on 15 March 2010 and meetings continued during 2010 and 2011.  The TPPA was to be announced at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting in Honolulu earlier this month.

Dr Patricia Ranald, Convener of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network (AFTINET), which has a membership of over 60 community groups, including Catholic Religious Australia, plus many individual members, said:

The APEC meeting in Hawaii was meant to conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a new free trade deal between the US, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.  But the deal has been delayed because of controversial proposals tabled by the US, and negotiations will continue into 2012

According to the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and AFTINET, the US wishes to undermine access to medicines in Australia and the Pacific, seeking to include provisions that would raise the cost of medicines, extend the monopoly rights of pharmaceutical companies over life-saving drugs and place new restrictions on pharmaceutical reimbursement programs such as Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

AFTINET Convener Dr Patricia Ranald:
"These sorts of provisions have no place in trade agreements.  The operation of the PBS and similar schemes in other countries should not be determined by international trade rules that can override domestic policies."

For more information: http://aftinet.org.au/cms/

Read AFTINET’s Media Release: Pacific Trade Pact misses APEC deadline as community groups slam US proposals on medicines and corporate rights

Prayer 

Let us pray ...
In the stillness of our being we listen to your word and resolve to act in our world.
Urged by your love for us and empowered by the Holy Spirit
may we as people of God respect and uphold the dignity of every person.

Inspired by your love for us and your Word to us and empowered by your Holy Spirit
we resolve, through our words and action to respect and uphold the dignity
of every person with whom we share this planet.   Amen

Action

1. Support Free Trade Products

2. Attend the Seminar: CORPORATE RIGHTS OR WORKERS’ RIGHTS?
Friday 2 December, 5.45pm - 7.00pm
Ground Floor Training Room, Unions NSW Building, 377 Sussex St Sydney
(Short walk from the Sydney Convention Centre)
Drinks & finger food provided
Speakers: Senator Doug Cameron (TBC),
Peter Jennings (Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA),
Dr Patricia Ranald (AFTINET)

This seminar will explore how we can ensure that free trade agreements:
- do not prevent workers and their families having access to affordable medicines;
- do not prevent the regulation of tobacco advertising or of other dangerous substances like asbestos; and
- include commitments to enforceable labour rights.

3. Join AFTINET

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