Church agency backs criticism of UK on world poverty
-27/04/06
UK-based international d
Church agency backs criticism of UK on world poverty
-27/04/06
UK-based international development agency Christian Aid today applauded a new parliamentary report that blamed the British government for breaking its promises by continuing to force poor countries to liberalise their economies.
The UK stands accused of backtracking on pledges made last year to stop forcing poor countries to liberalise trade through trade negotiations. Britain has supported the European Union in itís hard line negotiating stance with developing countries in the World Trade Organisation.
Dr Claire Melamed, Christian Aidís head of trade policy, said that the WTO, which had been discussing a new trade round, had missed another deadline because of the EUís refusal to make concessions to poor countries without first demanding harsh conditions in return.
ìPeter Mandelson is refusing to make any changes to the scandalous agricultural subsidy regime unless developing countries throw open their industrial and services sectors, effectively ending any possibility of development in those sectors. And now we know from the International Development Committeeís report that the UK must bear some of the blame for this failure.
ìDespite all its pro-development rhetoric, the Committee accuses the UK government of not standing up to Commissioner Mandelson and insisting that the EU do what it must to make the ëdevelopment roundí a reality. Instead, they are allowing the EU to hold the talks hostage.
ìThe UK government is dining out in London on the kudos of apparently opposing the EUís indefensible position, while still supping with Mandelson in Brussels,î she said.
ìThe millions of poor people whose fate rest on decisions made in the WTO might think they have friend in the UK government, but this report has shown otherwise. It is time for the UK to make its rhetoric a reality and stand up to Mandelson. The EU must agree to reform its agricultural policies, without demanding that developing countries destroy their own economies in return,î concluded Christain Aid’s Dr Melamed.
Church agency backs criticism of UK on world poverty
-27/04/06
UK-based international development agency Christian Aid today applauded a new parliamentary report that blamed the British government for breaking its promises by continuing to force poor countries to liberalise their economies.
The UK stands accused of backtracking on pledges made last year to stop forcing poor countries to liberalise trade through trade negotiations. Britain has supported the European Union in itís hard line negotiating stance with developing countries in the World Trade Organisation.
Dr Claire Melamed, Christian Aidís head of trade policy, said that the WTO, which had been discussing a new trade round, had missed another deadline because of the EUís refusal to make concessions to poor countries without first demanding harsh conditions in return.
ìPeter Mandelson is refusing to make any changes to the scandalous agricultural subsidy regime unless developing countries throw open their industrial and services sectors, effectively ending any possibility of development in those sectors. And now we know from the International Development Committeeís report that the UK must bear some of the blame for this failure.
ìDespite all its pro-development rhetoric, the Committee accuses the UK government of not standing up to Commissioner Mandelson and insisting that the EU do what it must to make the ëdevelopment roundí a reality. Instead, they are allowing the EU to hold the talks hostage.
ìThe UK government is dining out in London on the kudos of apparently opposing the EUís indefensible position, while still supping with Mandelson in Brussels,î she said.
ìThe millions of poor people whose fate rest on decisions made in the WTO might think they have friend in the UK government, but this report has shown otherwise. It is time for the UK to make its rhetoric a reality and stand up to Mandelson. The EU must agree to reform its agricultural policies, without demanding that developing countries destroy their own economies in return,î concluded Christain Aid’s Dr Melamed.