TRADE POLICY GOALS
TRADE: Shaping trade policies so that poverty reduction and development are priorities
The Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty calls for the U.S. to make overcoming poverty central to trade policy, starting with agriculture.
- Reform current U.S. farm programs to reduce payments, target support to small and medium-sized farms, and eliminate farm supports that make it difficult for farmers in poor countries to compete.
- Include environmental and labor provisions in U.S bilateral and regional trade agreements to protect vulnerable workers and God’s creation.
- Promote income and employment opportunities for small farmers, farm-workers and rural communities by supporting the initiative in the World Trade Organization to preserve and strengthen “special and differential treatment” for poor countries.
- Encourage broad public debate about the human dimensions of trade and open negotiations to representatives of the poor and other affected groups.
- Make sure there is coordination and consistency among trade, aid and debt policies to help overcome poverty and combat hunger.