27 September 2005

Dear Mr Mandelson,

Today is International Stop EPAs day.

The most unequal trade negotiations in history began three years ago today, pitting the world’s largest trading bloc against 77 of the world’s poorest countries. As you gear up for world trade talks in December don’t forget that trade justice also demands action on regional trade agreements.

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries could unleash a development disaster unless urgent action is taken now. Current proposals would require developing countries to rapidly open up their markets to European corporations – threatening jobs, industries, government revenues and public services in some of the poorest countries in the world. Local markets would be flooded by cheap, subsidised European goods forcing local producers out of business.

One year ago more than 150 groups from around the world formed the Stop EPA coalition to demand that the EU’s current plans for EPAs be shelved.

Today we urge you to immediately:

1. Guarantee aid
   We call on you to state on record that the level of EU aid to ACP countries will be unaffected whether they choose to sign an EPA with the EU or not.
2. Request a new mandate
   Your current instructions for EPA negotiations are out of touch with what developing countries need to combat poverty. We call on you to request a new development mandate from EU member states that withdraws the requirement that ACP countries open up their markets as part of a trade deal. We also urge you to scrap talks towards binding agreements on government procurement, investment and competition policy. Developing countries previously rejected these at world trade talks in 2003.
3. Change WTO rules
   Current WTO rules on regional trade agreements are a barrier to pro-development deals. We want you to push for the reform of these rules at the WTO ministerial in Hong Kong so that liberalisation requirements on developing countries are removed.
4. Offer alternatives to EPAs
   We call on you to start work on possible alternatives to EPAs now so that ACP countries have a genuine choice of trade deal.

In February this year you said, “The only way to make poverty history is to allow developing countries to pursue the path of progressive change and industrialisation.” You also said, “I have already announced my determination that in future EPAs will have a clearer development focus.” Today you have the chance to translate those words into action.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Miller, Director, ActionAid

Daleep Mukarji, Director, Christian Aid

Paul Chandler, Chief Executive, Traidcraft

Graham Fairbairn, Acting General Director, Tearfund

Euan Wilmshurst, Director, Action for Southern Africa