Archived press release

Geneva Trade Talks Threaten Environment

27 July 2005

Friends of the Earth today (Wednesday 27^th July) called for a halt to negotiations currently taking place at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva. The talks aim to free up trade in natural resources [1] which Friends of the Earth says poses a serious threat to the environment. Campaigners believe the talks will threaten the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in the developing world who depend on the natural environment for their survival.

The talks, which take place as part of the WTO General Council meeting, are taking place as a leaked document from the UK's Department for International Development [2] reveals that the UK Government plans to step up the propaganda offensive at home to make the case for an agreement on the trade in natural resources and manufactured goods, described by negotiators as non-agricultural market access (NAMA).

Papers registered with the WTO show that countries are using the negotiations to undermine measures designed to protect the environment, arguing that a range of green measures ranging from pollution controls to eco-labels are barriers to trade. Examples include measures such as energy efficiency ratings, dolphin friendly fishing methods and sustainable timber certification schemes.

Friends of the Earth Director Tony Juniper said:

"Earlier this month the UK worked hard to highlight the scandal of poverty in the G8 talks - Now ministers are pushing ahead with trade measures that will threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor people in the developing world. Trade in natural resources may well generate huge profits for big corporations, but will leave millions of people who depend on forests and fish with no livelihood"

The DFID document, seen by Friends of the Earth, reveals that the UK Government fears it is losing the policy debate on the issue of poverty - and that it "has been less successful at putting a convincing political economy case." As a result, it is looking to commission new research to justify its position, and the paper says: "It will be important to convey the economic arguments in a straightforward language, together with convincing examples. "

While DFID seeks to criticise NGOs for perceived "flaws" in some arguments, they admit something that Friends of the Earth has long known, saying that one reason for their failure to make the case is : "the difficulty to produce clear cut examples of the benefits of liberalization."

Tony Juniper continued:

"It is revealing to see that while the Government has already decided on its position, it is now going out to find the evidence to justify it. It is no wonder they are struggling to find clear cut benefits of the trade policies they back, because they are few and far between. These trade talks must be halted until there is a fuller understanding of what is at stake, who will benefit and who will lose out."

Notes

[1] The World Trade Organisation General Council meeting takes place in Geneva on Wednesday 27 and Friday 29^th July. For more information see www.wto.org

[2] Copies of the document, headed Negotiations on tariff reductions: discussing the evidence

DFID, International Trade Department, 2-Jul-05. are available from the Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth briefing on the impacts of NAMA:
Market access v sustainable development (PDF)

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust