São Paulo, June 17, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - When it comes to international agricultural trade, it is unfair to apply the same rules to developed countries, where agribusinesses receive government subsidies, and developing countries which lack adequate production conditions. This is the argument presented yesterday (16) at the Civil Society Forum (FSC), which is being held parallel to the 11th meeting of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XI), in São Paulo.

Glayson Soares, representing the Forum for the Organization of Ethical and Solidary Trade (Faces), explained that "unfair trade is that in which equal rules are used for unequal parties. When we have customs barriers and an international effort by the wealthier countries to block the entry of primary goods - the chief source of income for developing countries - and, at the same time, more finished products, the situation is unjust."

Soares took part in the sessions on "Fair Trade," yesterday's theme at the FSC. "Fair trade is not the only alternative, but it has already demonstrated its impact on local economies. It is possible to have an appropriate value paid to producers, environmental sustainability, and a fair relationship between consumers and producers," he claims.

His organization, Faces, has worked with producers who, one way or another, have already adopted the idea of fair trade, he explains. "In rural areas, relations should be more egalitarian. There is still an income differential between men and women -- and we espouse rural ethics, men and women earning the same and having the same power to decide. It is clear that this doesn't happen overnight, but this is our goal: a global endeavor with local impact."

"We have serious criticisms with respect to the procedures of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which has not advanced in terms of benefitting the poor countries. The UNCTAD is an alternative for recasting world trade in favor of development, and governments should strengthen it. In addition, we should have national policies for the development of local economies," Soares affirms.

Reporter: André Deak
Translator: David Silberstein