A petition – signed by over 38,000 people demanding that post-Brexit trade deals work for farmers and workers in developing countries – has been submitted to the Department for International Trade (DIT).
The petition was created by the Fairtrade Foundation, Traidcraft and Global Citizen and was handed in early due to the snap General Election.
“Today Fairtrade is at the Department for International Trade to hand in a petition that more than 38,000 people have signed, calling on the government to change trade for good post-Brexit,” says Tim Aldred, head of policy and research at the Fairtrade Foundation.
“Today too many people who produce the food and drink we enjoy are living on the edge and if the UK doesn’t put deals in place to protect them they could face up to £1 billion in extra taxes. Whatever the result of the election, we want the new trade minister to prioritise this issue and give farmers and workers around the world the security of continued trading with the UK, without having to worry about crippling taxes,” adds Aldred.
The petition is part of a Brexit: Let’s Change Trade For Good campaign that is calling for the Government to:
- Act quickly. Reassure economically vulnerable countries with an immediate offer of non-reciprocal duty- and quota-free market access.
- Go further. Make it easier for developing countries to sell higher value products to the UK, and put in place trade policies to tackle poverty in line with our promise to deliver the SDGs.
- Look ahead. Study the impact of planned trade deals with wealthier countries carefully to make sure that they don’t undermine poorer countries.
- Use aid and investment well. Make sure that UK aid and investment helps the poorest benefit from trade by helping to strengthen and grow their local businesses.
Earlier this year, in a Parliamentary debate, the International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox MP welcomed the Fairtrade Foundation and Traidcraft’s campaign and agreed with the importance of fair prices, wages, and sustainable practices for farmers and workers. A range of cross-party MPs including, the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Labour MPs also expressed support for the campaign when it was launched in Fairtrade Fortnight.
