Charles Kennedy

Liberal Democrats | Ross Skye & Lochaber

Kennedy: World Leaders Need Political Courage To Deliver On Free & Fair Trade Agenda

In a keynote speech hosted by CentreForum, Charles Kennedy challenged leaders of the developed world to take steps to deliver on the promises made at the Gleneagles summit and to make serious strides on behalf of the poorest countries in the WTO trade negotiations in December.

On aid Mr Kennedy said:

“Make Poverty History is a campaign without end. The world has the wealth and the resources to transform the lives of the poor. The question is whether there is the international political will to do so.

“Serious deficiencies remain in much of the Gleneagles agreement. Much of Africa is not part of the new debt-relief initiative. The increase in aid of bn by 2010 includes a lot of money previously pledged. Set against the sums which it is calculated are needed to meet the UN millennium development goals, Gleneagles is clearly a small first step. The high level of spin accompanying the summit conclusions has contributed to undermining the real achievements. Ultimately the Gleneagles agreement will be judged not by how much was promised, but by how much is delivered.”

On the upcoming Doha round, Mr Kennedy said:

“Gaining competitive access to food markets is essential for the economies of many developing nations – and essential to meet anti-poverty objectives.

“But the whiff of international pork barrel politics can be detected at these international trade talks. French obstinacy still stands in the way of any meaningful reduction in EU production subsidies and tariffs. The EU is right to negotiate to secure increased access to other markets – particularly in services. But it is wrong to demand so much more than it is prepared to deliver.”

On free and fair trade Mr Kennedy said:

“The debate over trade liberalisation in agriculture goes to the heart of what we mean by trade that is both free and fair. Just as I reject the laissez faire approach domestically – so I do internationally. But equally I would reject those who seek to use the justifiable arguments for ‘fair’ trade as some kind of anti-globalisation, anti-capitalist campaign.

“In the short-term, it may be necessary to maintain protectionist measures that allow the poorest countries to build up capacity and infrastructure. But these regimes should be time-limited and phased out based on the capacity of their economies. Their long-term aim should be to compete in the world market as open economies. The principle of non-discrimination which underpins the World Trade Organisation should be maintained. But so should the provisions for ‘special and differential treatment’ be respected for the poorest countries.”

Mr Kennedy also challenged the EU to reform the excessive secrecy surrounding its negotiating position:

“It is difficult to unpick how exactly the EU is approaching Hong Kong. Peter Mandelson, the EU Trade Commissioner, is delivered a mandate by a committee of civil servants meeting in private, without published minutes. How can we in Britain know if what the UK Government is arguing for behind closed doors matches its rhetoric in public? How can we hold our executive to account in such circumstances? How can we preach to other nations about open accountable liberal democracy when we fall short of rigorous standards at home?

The Liberal Democrat commitment to international democratisation and human rights is an inseparable part of our development agenda.”

Full text of speech