S.A right to resist EU trade blackmail 06-03-08

 

SA right to resist EU trade blackmail

The Congress of South African Trade Unions congratulates the South African government for taking a firm line in the negotiations taking place in Botswana, with the European Union (EU) over proposals for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

EPAs are a move by the EU to divide and rule the countries of the developing world. Against the background of the deadlock in the World Trade organisation talks, the EU and USA are trying to negotiate EPAs in order to buy off countries one-by-one.

Their aim is to further open up the markets of poor, developing countries to goods and services from the developed world and thus extend and legitimise the economic domination of the economic super-powers over their former colonies.

The EU has already persuaded negotiators from Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique and Namibia to initial interim EPAs, though they have not yet been signed by their governments. South Africa however has refused to agree and Namibia is still wanting further talks. As a result the future of the Southern African Customs Union is said to be in jeopardy.

We appeal to the SADC countries to put the interests of their poor people first. If they accept the EU deal, they will be destroying for ever any chance of developing their economies and ceasing to be basket-cases at any time in the future.

COSATU agrees with the SA Government's refusal to back down in face of the intransigent and patronising statements by EU Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson - that there can be no renegotiations and that timeframes cannot be changed.

Developing countries should not have to submit to such blackmail and we encourage the government to stand firm and to continue its campaign with other developing countries for a new World Trade Agreement that levels the playing fields and prioritises the developmental strategies of the poor countries of the world above the continued domination of the rich and powerful.