Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs Meet Trade Justice Lobbyists

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 2nd Nov 2005

Malcolm Bruce MP meeting Scottish members of the Trade Justice lobby. Mr Bruce is joined by his Liberal Democrat colleagues John Reid MP, Michael Moore MP, Danny Alexander MP, Sir Robert Smith MP, Alistair Carmichael MP and John Barrett MP.

Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce joined his Scottish Liberal Democrat colleagues in meeting people who have travelled from Scotland to add their support to the Trade Justice lobby of Parliament (2nd November 2005).

Commenting, Mr Bruce said:

"This is a great opportunity to meet all those who have come to London from Scotland and the North East to add their voices to the call for trade justice.

"The Liberal Democrats want to see the international trading system reformed so that it contributes to, rather than undermines, the development needs of the world's poorest countries. At the moment, developed world policies such as agricultural subsidies and export dumping are holding back developing countries from really benefiting from international trade. We must make trade more fair by abolishing these subsidies and tariffs and putting an end to export dumping.

"Fair trade rules which open markets but protect less developed countries from exploitation will provide the strong foundation needed for sustainable economic development, growth which aid and debt relief alone can not provide."

Mr Bruce is co-sponsor to an Early Day Motion tabled to coincide with the Trade Justice lobby. The text of the EDM runs below:

MAKING POVERTY HISTORY THROUGH TRADE JUSTICE

That this House believes that trade justice is vital if making poverty history is to be achieved; notes that December's World Trade Organisation (WTO) summit presents a key moment in the Doha Development Round; believes that the UK Government should not push developing countries to open up their markets but should respect their right to decide on trade policies that will help them end poverty, respect workers' rights and protect their environment; and calls on the Government to work with its partners in the European Union to change the European Commissioner's approach in order to ensure that WTO agreements allow developing countries to use trade policies to protect the livelihoods of their poor farmers and develop their own sustainable economic strength, and to choose the best policies for poor people and the environment in services such as water, health and education.