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.

Overseas development charities, including Christian Aid, and the African, Caribbean and Pacific governments met in Brussels recently to voice their concerns about these deals directly to EUmember states.

EPAs will force vulnerable producers into direct competition with rich nations. Yet Ireland, together with other European countries, is pushing some of the world’s poorest nations to sign up to these unfair trade deals.

We must stop these deals in their current form before poor countries are forced to trade away their future. The Government must use its influence to make these deals work for development. Failure to do so will undermine Ireland’s positive achievements towards making poverty history.

Niamh Nic Cárthaigh

Media and

Communications Officer

Christian Aid

17 Clanwilliam Tce

Dublin 2