16 June 2004

ActionAid International today criticised the final declaration of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for not adequately addressing fundamental issues for the world’s poorest farmers, such as the commodities crisis and corporate control.

The development agency believes the negotiations could have provided an important opportunity to revitalise the stalled World Trade Organisation talks. It says UNCTAD should have produced a concrete urgent action plan to tackle the global collapse of commodity prices.

Aftab Alam Khan, coordinator of ActionAid’s food rights campaign, said: "Sao Paulo was yet another wasted opportunity. Rich countries could have showed serious commitment to putting trade talks back on track and the needs of the world's poorest countries at the heart of negotiations. Instead they did nothing except give vague promises and make empty speeches."

ActionAid complained the declaration hardly touched on the issue of regulation and control of multinational companies.

Peter Kamalingin, its policy officer from Uganda, said: "The wording is virtually meaningless. ActionAid believes the UN is obliged to help develop binding international regulation on multinational companies to ensure they do not work to the detriment of poor people."

But, the agency said, there were some positive outcomes from the meeting. It welcomed the emphasis on the need to strengthen trade between southern countries. ActionAid also hailed the recognition that developing countries should have the ability to use their own national policies to meet their development needs.