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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Trade access is a matter of life or death for the poor: says Secretary-General

30 April 2003

Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon today repeated his appeal to developed countries to deliver on promises to phase out agricultural subsidies. Speaking at the Liu Institute for Global Issues in Vancouver, Canada, he said: "They must accept that there is no alternative to phasing out agricultural subsidies. For as long as developing countries are cut off from markets in the rich world, they stand no real chance of lifting themselves out of poverty. For them, trade access is literally a matter of life or death."

Referring to the recent failure of World Trade Organisation members to agree on guidelines for agricultural reform, Mr McKinnon said: "If we are serious about tackling poverty in the world, we need to change the way we think about global trade. Some countries continue to oppose efforts to bring about genuine reform in agricultural trade and the provision of affordable drugs for the poor. The stark truth is that if they do not change their stand, they will have blood on their hands."

In his lecture, hosted by Dr Lloyd Axworthy, Director and CEO of the Liu Institute, Mr McKinnon also underlined the importance of multilateralism as a mechanism for managing relations between states after the Cold War. "We must make sure that the new international order is generated through an inclusive process which enjoys the support of everyone involved. The aim must not only be to re-order the world, but also to reconcile the people of the world. The Commonwealth, where all member countries sit at the table as equals, can play an important role in resolving conflicts and fostering dialogue between nations."

Noting that Canada was a founding member of the association, Mr McKinnon said that the country has always been one of its strongest supporters, helping to shape the modern Commonwealth.

03/25
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