04 May 2005

As a secret World Trade Organisation mini-ministerial meeting closed in Paris today, ActionAid International and Greenpeace International warned that governments are rushing to complete a trade deal without considering the impact on poor communities and the environment.

The agencies expressed concern that developed nations' high ambition on market access for non-agricultural goods will hit poor countries' economies and could worsen the over-exploitation of natural resources.

Tim Rice, trade policy officer at ActionAid UK, said: "The negotiations must not be driven by the artificial pace generated through undemocratic processes, such as mini-ministerials. The group of least-developed countries warned that rushed liberalisation brings deindustrialisation.

"And their other concerns, like cotton, have been marginalised in the negotiations.

"The priorities of the poor must be put at the heart of the global trade regime."

Daniel Mittler, trade policy adviser for Greenpeace International, said: "The impact of further trade liberalisation on sensitive sectors such as fisheries and forests, are unknown.

"But today unregulated trade in fish and forest products is already leading to over-exploitation and depriving many communities of the basis of their livelihoods.

"Forests and fish are precious natural resources that must be urgently preserved, rather than sacrificed on the altar of free trade.

"The EU, the US and others, while paying lip service to development, are putting unacceptable pressure on developing countries to accept an aggressive market-opening agenda for all non-agricultural sectors.

"Ministers must stop rampaging towards a bad deal for people and the environment.

"It is time for an honest assessment of the social and environmental impact of free trade."