Globalisation a force for good?

On Tuesday 6 July 2004 the government published a new White Paper on Trade and Investment entitled Making globalisation a force for good.

It was intended to address:

• how the power of globalisation can be harnessed, especially in poorer countries.

• the implications of globalisation nationally and internationally.

Friends of the Earth hoped the Paper would propose fundamental changes to the government's trade policy to ensure lasting sustainability.

Instead, the Paper demonstrates the government's failure to take a lead in making tough choices by:

• ignoring the fact that "one size fits all" export-lead development has failed to deliver.

• failing to commit to binding international rules to curb the impact of big business.

• not dealing adequately with debt relief.

• providing superficial treatment at best of environmental protection and social justice.

The White Paper focuses on improving poor countries' ability to sell their goods in rich countries' markets as the solution to poverty (known as market access).

Friends of the Earth believes this solution ignores the environment and the needs of poor communities for coordinated help closer to home.

Friends of the Earth is concerned the Paper presents market access as a short-term gain, obscuring the lack of lasting solutions to global trade.

If the government really wanted to show leadership, they would develop proposals for the long-term, instead of opting for quick fixes and easy praise.

Eve Mitchell, Trade Campaigner,
Friends of the Earth

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