Trade

A report, co-authored by CAFOD, about the unfair tactics being used by the European Commission to negotiate free trade deals known as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with developing countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (2007)

As pressure builds to conclude a deal at the WTO, this paper sets out the importance of Special Products in defending the interests of poor farmers interests in market access negotiations.

Produced jointly by the South Centre and CAFOD in consultation with developing country negotiators and economists.

The implications of the decision to end EU export subsidies by 2013, and why dumping will continue - CAFOD and ActionAid joint paper
(April 2006)

A special CAFOD Hong Kong Report which analyses the delicate balancing act between the WTO, agriculture and the need to protect small-scale farmers
(December 2005)

Reviewing Green box subsidies. Joint submission by Caritas Internationalis, CIDSE, Actionaid International and Oxfam in the run up to the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong, December 2005

While the UK government is doing much to promote increases in aid and debt relief to poor countries, it is also supporting trade liberalisation policies that CAFOD believes will plunge some of the world's poorest people into deeper poverty.

Download the Trade Justice Movement's 2005 challenge to the UK Government (Updated June 2005)

The CAP, and the subsidies and protectionism employed by the other major economic powers, constitute a roadblock on the path to development for dozens of the world’s poorest nations
(June 2005)

Why the EU's proposals for free trade with Africa will not heal its scar of poverty
(Nov 2004)

CAFOD’s position on child labour is based on its experience in working with partners in 75 countries around the developing world and on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
(1997)

These papers are no longer available online, but copies may be sent out if you email policy@cafod.org.uk requesting the title as listed here

The Cancún WTO Ministerial Meeting
What happened? What does it mean for development? Submission to the International Development Select Committee
(September 2003)

Unwanted, Unproductive, and Unbalanced
This paper is a response from leading UK development organisations to some specific arguments put forward in support of a multilateral investment agreement (MIA) at the WTO

The Road to Cancún: CAFOD's workplan on the WTO
The end of 2002 saw many of the WTO 'Doha Round' negotiations in Geneva in a state of paralysis (or at best, glacial progress).

The Cancun WTO Ministerial Meeting, September 2003
What happened? What does it mean for development? Submission to the International Development Select Committee
(September 2003)

CAFOD Position Statement on the Cancún WTO Ministerial Conference The 'Doha Development Agenda' of world trade talks is hanging by a thread. Two years after its launch, the WTO is facing a major crisis: deadlines for agreements on key development issues such as agriculture, patents on essential medicines and special treatment for developing countries have all been missed

CAP Reform is urgent
Submission to the European Commission on the Mid-Term Review of Agenda 2000

Joint Submission to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry on the Mid-Term Review of the Common Agricultural Policy
by CAFOD, ActionAid, Oxfam and Christian Aid

Global Trade at the service of Human Development
A position paper on the occasion of the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún, Mexico
(September 2003)

WTO Agriculture Negotiations and Developing Countries
A background paper on the occasion of the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancún, Mexico
(September 2003)

Civil society`and the WTO
Participation in national trade policy design in Uganda and Kenya

Joint Submission to the DEFRA Consultation on the Mid-Term Review of Agenda 2000
by CAFOD and ActionAid

The Development Box made easy
Free trade is far from fair - a fact that largely escapes the notice of the world's trade negotiators at the World Trade Organisation
(January 2002)

Post-Cancun Reflections on Agriculture
A joint NGO Submission to the European Commission's call for input into its post-Cancún reflection process

Development and Agriculture in the WTO
Comparison between the Development Box, the EU's Food Security Box and the Harbinson Draft Modalities
(February 2003)

Trade and Development: Aspects of the Doha Round
Submission to International Development Committee Inquiry to set up a joint committee to monitor progress in the Doha Round negotiations

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Development
International IPR legislation is of particular concern and should be subjected to scrutiny in terms of their positive or negative impact on the achievement of development targets

Importation of Milk Solids into Jamaica from the EU
Jamaica is one example of the detrimental effects that European Union subsidies are having on developing country agriculture. Rather than being a thriving agricultural industry that generates much needed domestic growth and employment, the Jamaican dairy sector is now in severe contraction

A New Round of Global Trade Negotiations at the WTO?
In the run-up to the WTO ministerial meeting in Qatar in November 2001, one of the key areas of debate will be the proposal by the European Union and others to launch a new round of global trade talks on a wide range of issues
(April 2001)

Agriculture negotiations in the WTO
Six ways to make a new Agreement on Agriculture Work for Development - working draft
(August 2003)

For Whose Benefit? Making trade work for people and the planet
A positive agenda for change aimed at using the trade system to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication. Although directly pertinent to the WTO, it is also relevant to other institutions that impact on local, national and international trade policy
(November 2000)

The Trade and Industry Select Committee Inquiry on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI)
CAFOD is concerned about the impact of the MAI on countries in the developing world. Although currently in the forum of the OECD, developing countries are likely to accede to any MAI in the future
(October 1998)

Views from the South: Conference Report on Ethical Trade
NGO activists from the UK, Asia, Latin America and Africa discuss codes of conduct
(September 1998)

Developing Country Proposals On Modalities For Further Reform In Agriculture
Although agriculture negotiations started in the year 2000 under the so called built-in agenda, they became part and parcel of the broader round of negotiations launched by the WTO
(February 2003)

Going to Qatar
How to get an NGO representative on your government delegation - two case studies from the WTO Ministerial in Seattle
(April 2001)

The Battle in Seattle
The Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organisation was supposed to agree the agenda for a new round of global trade talks, aimed at further liberalisation in a range of areas, including agriculture and services
(December 1999)

Singapore issues in the WTO: What do developing countries say?
At the insistence of the EU and Japan, a decision will be made at the next WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico on whether to begin negotiations on the so-called 'Singapore Issues': investment, competition policy, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation
(July 2003)

The Trade Justice Movement and the British Government
Briefing for CAFOD supporters on areas of agreement and difference

Trade and Solidarity
A statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
(June 2003)

Globalisation of trade - Free vs Fair
Trade is our closest daily link with people in poor countries. We buy everything from Sri Lankan shirts and Brazilian shoes to Colombian coffee and Chilean grapes. The gap between rich and poor countries is increasing

The impact of recession and September 11
Briefing on the WTO and Trade after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
(October 2001)

Food Security and the WTO
Showing how today's trade rules, designed to suit the interests of the richest nations, work against the poor. Our task is to redress this imbalance and to make trade work for development and poverty reduction
(September 2001)

CAFOD position on a new Round of global trade negotiations at the WTO
In the run-up to the planned WTO ministerial meeting in Qatar in November 2001, one of the key areas of debate is the proposal to launch a new round of global trade talks
(October 2001)

Recommendations for institutional reform of the World Trade Organisation
A discussion paper compiled by ActionAid, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Consumers International, FIELD, Oxfam, RSPB, WDM
(October 2000)