[DEBATE] : SA right to resist EU trade blackmail

[Riaz K Tayob]

SA right to resist EU trade blackmail
 
Patrick Craven, COSATU National Spokesperson, 6 March 2008

COSATU has congratulated 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.