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22 April, 2001
Thirty-four countries of the Americas have decided to sign an agreement on free trade. Even though it concerns 800 million people, few of them know about it.
In a few years, all countries of the two American continents will have opened up their borders for goods, services and capital.
Although free and fair trade remains one of the best instruments for development, if it is organised in a proper and just manner, certain fundamental conditions will have to be fulfilled for this purpose:
1. The agreement, regional or global, must aim at creating sustainable growth for every country.
2. The main objective should not be just to benefit Capital, but to create jobs and through that good living conditions and standards for all people concerned.
3. The purchasing power of the entire population must increase considerably, particularly in the developing countries in the region. People must be able to afford to buy what they produce.
4. A clause guaranteeing minimum labour and environmental standards must be part of such an agreement.
I am afraid that the new FTAA agreement has not been negotiated in this spirit, and therefore will not benefit the people. The negotiations, which have been going on for some years, have been carried out behind closed doors, and no document was released before the conference in Quebec was over.
Once again, politicians have missed the opportunity to exercise democracy the way people would expect them to do.
If trade unions, along with other organisations representing consumers, environmentalists and others, now react strongly against the FTAA and continue protesting, the governments of the 34 countries will have to assume their responsibility.
In a few years, all countries of the two American continents will have opened up their borders for goods, services and capital.
Although free and fair trade remains one of the best instruments for development, if it is organised in a proper and just manner, certain fundamental conditions will have to be fulfilled for this purpose:
1. The agreement, regional or global, must aim at creating sustainable growth for every country.
2. The main objective should not be just to benefit Capital, but to create jobs and through that good living conditions and standards for all people concerned.
3. The purchasing power of the entire population must increase considerably, particularly in the developing countries in the region. People must be able to afford to buy what they produce.
4. A clause guaranteeing minimum labour and environmental standards must be part of such an agreement.
I am afraid that the new FTAA agreement has not been negotiated in this spirit, and therefore will not benefit the people. The negotiations, which have been going on for some years, have been carried out behind closed doors, and no document was released before the conference in Quebec was over.
Once again, politicians have missed the opportunity to exercise democracy the way people would expect them to do.
If trade unions, along with other organisations representing consumers, environmentalists and others, now react strongly against the FTAA and continue protesting, the governments of the 34 countries will have to assume their responsibility.