Archived press release

Cross-Party MPs Tell Blair to Drop Investment Agreement

14 July 2003

Friends of the Earth congratulated the International Development Committee on news today (Monday) that it will advise the UK Government to "unequivocally drop" its support for new agreements in the World Trade Organisation on investment, competition, government procurement and trade facilitation - the Singapore, or New, Issues. Friends of the Earth has long argued that such agreements could actually make poverty worse, as well as increasing the power of corporations.

The agreements have also been roundly rejected by civil society and more than 77 developing countries, as well as elected MPs, civil society, developing countries, unions and NGOs.

Friends of the Earth Policy and Campaign Director Liana Stupples said:

"There is no evidence that an investment agreement at the WTO will do anything to alleviate poverty around the world, yet the Prime Minister and the Government persist in pursuing an agreement via the EU. The longer Blair fails to heed all these voices saying "No!", the more it looks like he is in the pocket of the trans-national companies who stand to benefit from new WTO rules. There is still time before Cancun for Blair to do the right thing. He must drop new issues at the WTO."

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For more information see www.pocketPM.co.uk

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Archived press release

Cross-Party MPs Tell Blair to Drop Investment Agreement

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