As Trade Justice debate returns to political agenda, Annette Brooke Challenges Minister on UK's Action.

6.00.00pm GMT Wed 16th Nov 2005

People young and old support fair trade practices which need urgent reform at EU and WTO

Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat's youngest new MP for East Dunbartonshire secured a debate on international trade and developing countries following the mass Trade Justice lobby to Parliament on 2 November. Annette Brooke MP took the opportunity to raise directly with the Minister, a number of the concerns that were mentioned by constituents who lobbied her at the Trade Justice Lobby. She said:

"The Make Poverty History campaign has been inspiring, but we have to ask ourselves whether it will be any different from previous campaigns. Will we achieve anything? Will people look back and say, "That was a turning point"?[...]

"In my constituency, I find it particularly inspiring to see how schoolchildren now have a real understanding of the unfairness in international trading. That is hope for the future; it shows that we will continue making progress and that people will not forget. There is a real understanding of why some countries are still poor, why people are suffering so greatly, and of the fact that we have the opportunity to change things." […]

"I have received more particular representations asking what we, as a nation, will do during our presidency of the EU to come to an early agreement on a date by which rich countries will have ceased to give export subsidies, to dump products on the developing world and to distort world trade in such a bizarre and almost obscene way." […]

"I should like to round off my remarks with some of the facts with which we were all presented, but which need to be put on the record. We all know that African people cannot afford delay, and we cannot afford not to get it right. If Africa increased its share of world trade by just 1 per cent., it would get $90 billion, which is three times more than it gets today in aid and debt relief combined." […]

"Hon. Members have already said that that is why trade is so important in our way forward. Unless we get the deal at the WTO, the scandal of unfair trade will continue unabated. Rich countries spend $279 billion on farm support, which is three times more than they spend on aid. The figures are alarming, but we have it at our fingertips to speak and take action." […]

"How can we live with our conscience when we think about the EU dumping sugar and beef at less than half the production cost and how that is affecting the developing world? I hope that the Minister will be reassuring about the robust stance that will be taken in the EU and at future trade talks."

In response to Mrs. Brooke's questioning on the UK's response to these unfair trade practises - the Minister replied:

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas) : The hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke) asked specifically about when we wanted export subsidies to come to an end. The UK has made clear our support for an end date of 2010 for EU export subsidies, and we continue to argue that line with our EU partners. Perhaps understandably, at one level, our EU partners want to see other developed nations committing to end their export subsidies and want the WTO negotiations to be the vehicle by which end dates are agreed. Nevertheless, we are clear that we want 2010 to be the end date and are continuing to push European and other countries to continue to move towards that.

ENDS

 Annette Brooke has signed the EDM below calling for Trade Justice - 263 MPs in total have signed the motion, calling for dramatic action to be taken at the WTO summit in Hong Kong in December.

 Annette Brooke also congratulates Wareham Town Council on its Fair Trade zone status.

EDM 679

MAKING POVERTY HISTORY THROUGH TRADE JUSTICE

That this House believes that trade justice is vital if making poverty history is to be achieved; notes that December's World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit presents a key moment in the Doha Development Round; believes that the UK Government should not push developing countries to open up their markets but should respect their right to decide on trade policies that will help them end poverty, respect workers' rights and protect their environment; and calls on the Government to work with its partners in the European Union to change the European Commissioner's approach in order to ensure that WTO agreements allow developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength, and to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education.