EU trade deals will hurt poor countries

THE current failure of the World Trade Organisation talks means that more emphasis is being placed on bilateral trade deals between the EU and some of the world’s poorest countries.

These new deals will lock poor countries into trade policies that will undo the achievements of last year’s debt cancellation and aid packages.

The unjust trade deals are called economic partnership agreements (EPAs) and are being negotiated between the EU and blocs of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.