Oxfam Ireland calls for WTO trade deal that's fair not foul.
Oxfam Ireland Press Release
22 July 2008
Oxfam Ireland today called on the Irish government to ensure a fair deal at the WTO for poor countries.
The current round of talks at the World Trade Organisation, the so-called Doha Round because they were launched in Doha, Qatar in November 2001 were hailed as a ‘Development Round’ which were to put the interests of developing countries ‘at the heart ’ of the Round.
Trade ministers from around 35 countries, including Ireland, gather at the WTO this week in another attempt to forge a trade deal.
“Now more than ever, poor countries need a fair trade deal. Rising food and fuel prices are hitting the poorest hardest and undoing progress on poverty reduction,” said Colin Roche, Oxfam Ireland’s Policy and Advocacy Coordinator.
Trade reform that puts poor countries first is desperately needed in the face of rising food and fuel prices and global economic insecurity. But current proposals at the World Trade Organization (WTO) would make the situation worse and undermine development.
Current offers would mean little progress in reducing dumping of agricultural products from rich countries which undermine jobs and food security in poor countries. It would also mean a betrayal of promises to poor countries to open up less than rich countries locking them into low-value economies by preventing them from building infant industries.
‘This round of talks was launched as a Development Round. Rich countries are busy betraying their promises and undermining development at the World Trade Organisation. We must not forget our promises. It’s time we delivered for poor countries.’ continued Mr. Roche.
For more information, to arrange interviews, or to receive a copy of the report, contact:
ROI: Paul Dunphy, Media and Communications Executive, 01 635 0422, paul.dunphy [at] oxfamireland.org
NI: Phillip Graham, Media and Communications Officer, 028 9089 5959, phillip.graham [at] oxfamireland.org
Notes to Editors
Despite the fact that US farmers are enjoying very high prices and record farm income - an average of $89,000 per farm - the US Congress recently expanded government farm subsidies in the 2008 Farm Bill and reinstated cotton subsidies previously ruled illegal at the WTO. If current offers are accepted, the US may not have to cut a penny from current spending on agriculture and the EU will only have to cut around $2.6bn, from a total of $30bn.
Oxfam this week launched a report on the United States Farm Bill 'Square pegs in round holes; How the Farm Bill squanders chances for a pro-development trade deal' available at www.oxfam.org/en/policy
Oxfam Ireland is an independent member of Oxfam International- a group of thirteen non-governmental agencies dedicated to fighting poverty and related injustice around the world.
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