Trade & Investment
- Posted by NETWORK on June 25th, 2008 filed in Issues, NETWORK, Trade & Investment
International trade, debt and investment are critical issues inextricably intertwined with global peace and security. Trade and investment can be vehicles for economic growth, promote development and peace, and raise the standard of living among nations only when the welfare of involved workers and communities take precedence over expanding markets and profits.
When markets and profits reign, however, undesirable effects emerge. U.S. workers are brought face-to-face with the outsourcing of jobs and corporate investments abroad. Between 1993 and 2002, The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has resulted in the loss of 879,280 U.S. jobs, consumer food prices in all three signatory nations have risen, and millions of Mexican campesinos have been forced off their small farms, unable to compete with subsidized U.S. crops. NETWORK believes that NAFTA and other trade agreements require serious examination and substantive change.
International debt policies are also a significant concern. The poorest countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East have debt burdens in the billions that draw government resources away from critical social programs and hinder the countries’ responses to crises. An equitable distribution of the goods and resources of the planet without unreasonable debt responsibilities among all peoples and nations is a necessary condition for peace.
From Our Coalition Work
NETWORK is part of the Interfaith Working Group on Trade and Investment, which is a coalition of a broad spectrum of religious institutions and faith-based organizations in the United States. The principles in our Interfaith Statement on International Trade and Investment have two purposes: to help people analyze and critique trade and investment policies, and then envision more just and sustainable alternatives.
Interfaith Statement on International Trade and Investment
Introduction
In an age of increasing economic integration and interdependence between the nations and peoples of the world, mounting global inequities have come into sharp focus. While technological and other advances have made it possible for segments of humanity to achieve unprecedented material prosperity, large numbers of people have become mired in poverty, hunger, and disease. In the midst of growing disparities and injustices between and within countries, governments and international economic institutions have increasingly sought market-driven policies, particularly the expansion of international trade and investment. This limited approach has too often served to aggravate the problem. We see the need for a broader, more holistic understanding of human economic activity.
It is our belief, as members of diverse faith communities, that moral and spiritual principles can provide guidance in the search for practical measures to address the profound ethical issues raised by international trade and investment. In this spirit, we offer the following five (5) principles, each accompanied by our observations and visions for the future. These principles apply to all actors, public and private, engaged in international trade and investment. We believe that adoption of these principles will assist people everywhere to shape international trade and investment so that they advance the goal of a more just, more sustainable, and more prosperous human society.
Five Principles
1. International trade and investment systems should respect and support the dignity of the human person, the integrity of creation, and our common humanity.
2. International trade and investment activities should advance the common good and be evaluated in the light of their impact on those who are most vulnerable.
3. International trade and investment policies and decisions should be transparent and should involve the meaningful participation of the most vulnerable stakeholders.
4. International trade and investment systems should respect the legitimate role of government, in collaboration with civil society, to set policies regarding the development and welfare of its people.
5. International trade and investment systems should safeguard the global commons and respect the right of local communities to protect and sustainably develop their natural resources.
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
IATP works with organizations around the world to analyze how global trade agreements impact domestic farm and food policies. Alongside a global coalition, IATP advocates for fair trade policies that promote strong health standards, labor and human rights, the environment and democratic institutions.
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Catholic social teaching, reflections, and issue analysis on globalization, trade, and agriculture.
Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty
A campaign lead by the U.S. Bishops and Catholic Relief Services to raise awareness about the impact of trade, aid, and debt on global poverty and actions individuals and communities can take to make a difference.
[c1]All human beings, regardless of any distinction, have been endowed by God with the intrinsic and inalienable quality of dignity. This principle of human dignity, so fundamental to our faith traditions, demands that international trade and investment respect the rights and needs of people above market principles. It is our common conviction that if we are to respect the integrity of God’s creation, then the natural world, with all its richness and diversity, must not be sacrificed to shortsighted profit motivations. It is our firm belief that all human beings constitute a single people responsible for mutual care and respect. If one segment of human society is suffering, all of humanity suffers. Recognition and acceptance of our common humanity will enable us to shape international trade and investment to advance the goal of a more just, equitable, and prosperous human society.
[c2]In order for trade and investment practices to enhance the well being of people, private enterprise should advance distributive justice, sustainable human development, environmental protection, and poverty alleviation. Trade and investment should assist societies to meet social needs, such as secure livelihoods, health and education, and to realize the benefits of scientific discovery, cultures and spiritual heritages. Among the world’s impoverished populations, women and children are often those who are most vulnerable.
[c3]In order for trade and investment practices to advance the common good, then transparency of process, meaningful participation in decision-making by those affected, and empowerment of vulnerable people are essential. Transparency requires that all participants have sufficient knowledge of the issues, rules and procedures and other vital elements of the decision making process. All stakeholders should be able to offer their opinions and perceptions in helping to determine, implement and evaluate policies. Those who are vulnerable include communities of ordinary people who often bear the burden of the negative consequences of trade and investment. Meaningful participation implies strengthening local actors and economies; it requires the transformation of power relations to create opportunities for those who are vulnerable to fully participate as stakeholders.
[c4]Government exists to serve the needs of society. It has an essential role in setting priorities and making decisions about trade and investment in order to advance the common good. Civil society, in its turn, has the right to freely express its views about society’s needs, address them in public policy, and to otherwise participate in decisions affecting social, economic and environmental justice.
[c5]The global commons include the shared natural systems and cycles that underpin the functioning of ecosystems everywhere. They are an essential component of the collective heritage of humankind. All nations and peoples, including economic actors, have a joint responsibility for protecting and conserving this heritage. Trade and investment should be carried out with vigilance and precaution, especially when scientific knowledge regarding the potential harm of such activity to the global commons is incomplete. Trade and investment should strictly respect the right and responsibility of peoples and communities to maintain the global commons through the sustainable use of their local and traditional resources.
