Parliamentary Early Day Motion tabled on making poverty history through trade justice 

10 October 2005

On the first day of the new parliamentary session John Battle, Labour MP for Leeds West, has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) on making poverty history through trade justice.

The text of the EDM (No 679) reads: 

"That this House believes that Trade Justice is vital if we are to make poverty history; notes that December's World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit presents a key moment in the Doha Development Round; believes that the UK Government should not push developing countries to open up their markets, but should respect their right to decide on trade policies that will help them end poverty, respect workers' rights and protect their environment; and calls on the Government to work with its partners in the European Union to change the European Commission's approach in order to ensure that WTO agreements allow developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength, and to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education" 

John Battle said: "I have been campaigning hard both locally and nationally on trade justice issues and feel strongly that the issue is vital to make poverty history. This EDM is being supported by the Trade Justice Movement and I'm proud to support it. I hope that many other parliamentary colleagues from across the parties will sign up to support this important initiative"

The MP went on to say: "December's WTO meeting is the key opportunity to build on this summer's strong lobbying and the commitments the G8 made by ensuring a long and lasting commitment to trade justice that will help end poverty by allowing developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength."

Supporters of the campaign for trade justice across the UK are calling on their MPs to sign the EDM. Many thousands will do so in person at the mass lobby for trade justice taking place on 2 November.