Trade

Trade – at the local, regional and international level – has the potential to act as a driver of development and to enable millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty. Justice in trade is key in the fight against poverty. However, the potential that trade offers to developing countries is largely being lost. Many of the rules and practices of trade favour developed countries and their companies. Wealth and power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of fewer international players with many individuals and companies wielding more wealth than entire nations. In many ways, the rules are rigged against poorer nations and their poorest communities, and are leading to increased poverty and inequality. The injustice in world trade has to be addressed if long-term sustainable development is to be achieved.