AMANDA JACKSON, national coordinator of Micah Challenge Australia, reflects on the outcomes of last weekend’s APEC meeting…
The APEC leaders” meeting finished wi-statements on a number of economic issues which will affect the poor. The statements had some positive aspects but were long on aspirational goals a-short on actual targets.
The official communiqué called for a revival of the Doha rou-of trade negotiations designed to lower barriers to trade. This rou-of talks-begun six years ago-would have benefits for poor agricultural nations which at present mu-compete wi-produce from heavily subsidised farmers in some rich nations.
A popular image of the inequalities of trade tells how the average cow in the European Union earns her owners more per day – $US2 – than nearly 50 per cent of the world”s population earn from their labours. Another example which drives home the problem is that cotton farmers in the US receive more in subsidies than the entire crop is worth. The announcement of APEC is therefore positive if it means that there is action to reduce subsidies which in Europe a-the US are wor-over $US68 billion each year.
Changes in the world climate-which are acknowledged will affect the poor mo-deeply-need international action. The business leaders who met during APEC called for specific targets. Peter Charlton-who co-chaired the meeting said governments needed to provide “clear goalposts that stay in position for a reasonable time so business can inve-in improvements”.
What came out of the APEC meeting was a long-term aspirational goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions-increase fore-cover a-inve-in new technologies. The Declaration did not set clear goals a-bi-passed the United Nations Kyoto agreement which Australia a-the USA have not supported.
APEC”s private meetings paved the way for huge new resources sales contracts for Australia but it was disappointing that the talks did not herald any big steps to overcome economic inequality. However-Minister for Foreign Affairs -Mr Downer did announce a meeting of Asia Pacific ministers next year-aimed at producing further economic reform a-reducing poverty.
Amanda Jackson is the national coordinator of the Micah Challenge Australia.
