Explore the issues

Trade

Trade takes place on a number of levels ­ whether it is goods you buy, services you use or the direct exchange of money. And in the era of globalisation the search for profit has gone global.

Trade could lift millions of people out of poverty. But international trade rules are rigged in favour of the rich and powerful.

The European Union is pushing through trade deals with developing countries that serve the interests of big business at the expense of the world’s poor.

Europe is now proposing a fundamental shift from negotiating trade deals multilaterally through the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to negotiating trade agreements bilaterally between countries and/or regions.  This type of trade deals is also known as a Free Trade Agreements (FTA).  

The main objective of Global Europe is currently to conclude the “new generation” of bilateral trade deals with major emerging economies such as India and Brazil. This new round of deals cover 34 countries across Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean. 920 million live in poverty in these regions and are unlikely to see any benefits from these agreements.  In all these regions resistance against these deals is growing stronger and stronger.  People in Europe need to add their voices to this struggle.

More info about trade at:
www.wdm.org.uk

Labour Rights

The Global Europe Strategy will be damaging for labour rights. Previous trade deals that the European Union has signed have been associated with job losses, decreased wages and increasing inequality.  The Global Europe strategy will not only affect jobs in target countries, but also across Europe.

More info at:
www.waronwant.org

Corporates

European corporations have been heavily involved in developing the Global Europe Strategy. BusinessEurope, the largest business lobby in Brussels was officially included in drafting process of the Global Europe Communication.  The European Commission also formally consulted with a number of other European businesses. Over 15,000 people are employed in Brussels to lobby on behalf of businesses and they have been very successful in securing pro-business policies.

More info at

Gender

Find out more about the gender impact of EU trade policies:
http://www.wide-network.org

Environment

There are concerns that Europe’s trade policy will accelerate the exploitation of natural resources, including forests, fisheries and minerals in developing countries. This could affect the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights, and efforts to tackle major global environmental challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss
 
Find out more about Europe and the environment at:

Resistance

There is resistance across the world to bilateral free trade agreements.
 
Find out more at:
»