'Trade is War': Yash Tandon on the impact of global free trade and the geopolitcs behind TTIP
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In Europe, opponents of TTIP are mainly concerned about transparency, ever-increasing corporate power and the impact on the environment.
But what does the treaty imply for North-South relations and what are the geopolitical dynamics behind it? Tandon passes a devastating judgement on free trade. The recent fuss about TTIP has reinvigorated the public debate about the costs and benefits of globalisation and free trade in Trade is war by yash tandon.
These trade and investment agreements serve the interests of multinationals and undermine the legal sovereignty of participating countries. Not only do EPAs hinder the development of many Africans, they lead to growing inequality, violence and migration.
There is absolutely no attention to the geopolitical dimensions of the treaty. And with the progressive left in Europe, who he blames to be complacent and Eurocentric. According to Tandon, Europeans buy fair trade products to clear their conscience. But fair trade does not even exist, he argues. Trade is war and how can war be fair? In his view, reports on economic growth in Africa, which emphasise the growing GDP in many countries, give a distorted picture.
Global free trade has had devastating consequences for people in Africa. In Uganda not only domestic industry has been destroyed, but agriculture has also been hit hard. In supermarkets in Kampala one buys European chicken legs, which are being dumped as a result of EU subsidies.
And that is no different in the case of fair trade tea. Is there hope for change? If so, what should be trade is war by yash tandon to turn the tide?
And are there positive practical examples? Benign trade is indeed possible, Tandon said, but to achieve it requires radical change. We need to launch a thousand new ships: Through regional cooperation and trade is war by yash tandon the combined strength of social movements around the world, we can bring about change. Yash Tandon Kampala, is a Ugandan scientist, author, political activist and policymaker.
He has published many books and articles on development, globalization and trade. Have a look at our previous items on TTIP:
