Trade
Learning carpentry in Sierra Leone
The potential for trade to contribute to economic and social development is well known. However, trade is failing to deliver such benefits around the globe. In the case of many of the world' s poorest countries imbalances in trade rules are actually aggravating poverty and undermining aid.
Despite the exhortation to developing countries to liberalise, developed countries continue to protect their markets. No where is this more evident than in the sector of most importance to developing countries, namely, agriculture. Imbalances in global trade rules have their roots in the power imbalances between rich and poor countries. On paper global trade rules are negotiated by all members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but in practice decisions are made by the powerful few.
Trócaire's Work on Trade
Trócaire works to ensure that trade policy making is informed by the views and voices of those affected at the grassroots. Through primary research, direct advocacy, networking and campaigning we seek to ensure pro-poor development outcomes in areas of most relevance to Least Developed Countries in international trade negotiations.
Trócaire believes that poor countries have the right to manage their economies in a way that places the realisation of their development goals rather than trade liberalisation per se to the fore. Our trade work emphasises the need for the views of poor countries to be reflected in international negotiations and agreements reached. This requires a transparent and participative negotiations process, which takes into account development concerns, particularly in those sectors of most relevance to people living in poverty.
Trócaire works on trade in partnership with organisations in the CIDSE/CI Network, Trade Matters/Trade Justice Ireland and organisations in the developing world.
Policy documents on the Trade
- El Acuerdo de Asociación entre Centroamérica y la EU
July 2008
¿Qué es y cuál será su posible impacto en la reducción de la pobreza y el desarrollo sostenible en Centroamérica?
- Towards 2012: A new overseas development agenda for Ireland
November 2007
This briefing proposes a new overseas development agenda for Ireland centred around eight key steps.
- Poverty Looms: How 50 years of EU-ACP co-operation is threatened
September 2007
A briefing paper on the current EPA trade negotiations between the Africa Caribbean Pacific group and the EU.
- Elaboration of a feasible proposal for a special safeguard mechanism for developing countries
November 2005
Trade has the potential to be a powerful catalyst for human development but unfair trade rules make it difficult for developing countries to advance.
- The special safeguard mechanism and Zambia
November 2005
Agriculture is a cornerstone of economic growth in Zambia and has been designated as one of the priority sectors in national development policy...
- Statement from Anwarul K. Chowdhury, UN Under-Secretary-General
November 2005
Statement from Anwarul K. Chowdhury.
- Hong Kong and LDCs: Making International Trade Work for All?
November 2005
Trócaire's Advocacy Officer, Micheal O' Brien gives an introduction/background to the round.
- Make a Dfference for Poverty Reduction at the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong
June 2005
CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis call on the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference to give real priority to a pro-poor perspective.
- A hearing in the WTO for all members
May 2005
Guidelines for improving the Hong Kong WTO negotiating process Policy Briefing.
- Reform of the Sugar Regime in the EU: Policy recommendations from a development perspective
March 2005
CIDSE/Caritas Internationalis Policy Recommendations from a development perspective on the reform of the Sugar Regime in the EU.
- Unfair trade and Cotton: Global Challenges/Local Challenges
September 2004
A CIDSE-CARITAS report on the cotton trade.
News items on Trade
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Collapse of Doha round signals time for a paradigm shift in Brussels
31 July 2008
As the WTO's trade talks collapse this week, the challenge remains to realise the potential trade presents for development.
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Back to the drawing board for the WTO?
30 July 2008
The collapse of the WTO trade talks only exposes yet another failure to establish more equitable trade rules for millions of the world’s poorest people.
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Real fair trade should be Ireland's focus at WTO meeting
17 July 2008
Trócaire calls on the Irish government to use its influence at the WTO talks to ensure fair trade for developing countries.
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What will the Lisbon treaty mean for developing countries?
04 June 2008
As Ireland readies itself to vote on the Lisbon Treaty next week, we look at what the treaty could mean for developing countries.
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World trade talks impasse continues
06 July 2007
Trócaire trade policy officer Michael O'Brien assesses the prospects for a successful conclusion to the Doha round of world trade talks.
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Time to Put the Brakes on EPA negotiations
09 March 2007
Trócaire's Michael O'Brien with an update on the EU's trade negotiations with the 75 countries in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group.