Trade Aid Media Release, 31st October, 2001

Greedy trade liberalisation - free of fairness

Will trade liberalisation be fair, ethical and sustainable? History suggests otherwise. It has created sweatshops. It has exacerbated poverty amongst coffee and cocoa farmers. It has widened the gap between the minority 'haves' and the majority 'have-nots' wherever it has been pursued. Why? Greed.

Trade has the potential for good, but if it means the exploitation of people and planet, then it is time we started looking at alternative forms of trade; ones that place the best interests of people, the environment, and future generations at the heart of the trade process.

Fair trade is practiced worldwide to achieve such ends. The person producing the goods is paid a fair price, part payments up front guarantee a market and provide security. The goods are made without the exploitation of people or the environment.

Fair, ethical sustainable trade is something this government should be encouraging as a means of making a positive difference in the world, instead of promoting the circumstances that perpetuate poverty. The opportunity to do this exists at Doha. The opportunity to do this exists with the proposed China free trade agreement being negotiated in Hong Kong. The opportunity is now.

ENDS.

Simon Gerathy Campaigns Manager trade aid Aotearoa/New Zealand phone 64 3 385 3535 fax 64 3 385 3536 mobile 025 937 875 email simong@tradeaid.co.nz

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