Appalling Hong Kong trade deal threatens people and environment

Media Advisory
Friends of the Earth International

“The so-called gains for developing countries are just little crumbs that will not make up for the price millions of farmers, fisher folk, Indigenous Peoples and others in the developing world will have to pay as a result of the rest of today’s deal,” said Friends of the Earth International chair Meena Raman from Malaysia.

The European Union, the US administration and their allies have ignored the demands of thousands of peasant farmers and fisherfolk protesting outside the conference.

Proposals to open markets in farming and natural-resource sectors, including forests, fisheries and minerals, will benefit the world’s largest corporations, but are likely to have a devastating impact on millions of the world’s poorest people, who rely on access to natural resources for their livelihoods, food and medicines.
“The deal struck in Hong Kong deal is a dangerous one. Developing countries may feel that they have succeeded in limiting some of the damage they thought would be inflicted upon them. But they are still stuck with stark market opening proposals that could devastate biodiversity and people’s livelihoods in years to come” added Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaigner Ronnie Hall.

Intensive agricultural practices and liberalized international trade are leading to social disruption, environmental damage and even hunger, particularly in developing countries. Small-scale farmers are particularly vulnerable to market opening pressures and often forced from their land when it is converted to plantations or planted with crops for export.

Governments meeting in Hong Kong, supposedly to offer the poorest countries a ‘development’ deal, have repackaged old aid, disguising it as new money for developing countries. Furthermore, promises of loans for infrastructure projects will increase debt burdens and open developing countries to further corporate exploitation.

It is ironic that some of the poorest countries in the world are still being put under extreme pressure to open up their markets in the name of development, even when they have protested that it could lead to deindustrialization and increased poverty and unemployment.

In addition, rich countries’ governments have rejected attempts to begin to recognize the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples to retain rights over their own traditional knowledge and natural resources. Negotiations to ‘reduce or eliminate’ environmental and health standards will also be intensified.
The Hong Kong deal on services removes flexibility from developing countries who don’t want to negotiate away services such as water and energy to multinational corporations.

“Hong Kong clearly shows that the WTO cannot deliver what people need. Thousands of farmers and fisherfolk are on the streets demanding that their livelihoods and families be protected, but they have been ignored by governments meeting in the WTO. Rich countries have continued to pursue their own trade interests at the expense of the poor and the environment,” said Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaigner Alberto Villarreal.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
‘Tyranny of free trade’ exposed in new report, online here .

FOR MORE INFORMATION IN HONG KONG (until December 19):
Ronnie Hall, Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaign: +852 6129 0419 or ronnieh@foe.co.uk

David Waskow, Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaign: +852 6127 8644 or dwaskow@foe.org

Alexandra Wandel, Friends of the Earth Europe Trade Campaign: +852 6125 7644 or alexandra.wandel@foeeurope.org

Alberto Villarreal Friends of the Earth International Trade Campaign (Spanish, English): +852 6127 0200 or comercioredes@gmail.com

Meena Raman, Chair, Friends of the Earth International: +852 6129 0032 or meenaraman@hotmail.com