TEAR Fund New Zealand Press Release

15/12/05

TEAR Fund calls for trade justice at WTO meeting in Hong Kong

TEAR Fund is calling for trade justice at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Hong Kong.

TEAR Fund wants to see the rules and practices that govern trade work for the poor in the developing world, not solely in favour of the rich. "We want to ensure developed nations stops pushing poor countries to open their economies through WTO negotiations. They need to respect poor countries' right to choose trade policies that will help them end poverty and protect their environment," says TEAR Fund Executive Director Stephen Tollestrup.

"The current round of negotiations is supposed to place the needs of developing countries at its core. But in reality poor countries' interests are being sidelined and rich countries are using negotiations to try to force them to make damaging concessions."

"It is vital the US and the EU make concessions on the vital issue of agriculture, and without strings attached. The current promise of a development package, in exchange for trade, will require poor nations to further open their fragile markets. The WTO must work for, not against the poor."

ENDS

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