Trade

The overarching goal of a Green trade policy is to ensure that trade achieves the maximum human well-being for the minimum use of energy and resources. This entails the redesign of the global trade system so that it does not undermine the regeneration of ecosystems, while ensuring the possibility of high-quality employment and environmental protection at home and abroad. Such systematic change must be firmly based on a foundation that respects the dignity and rights of all people, including with a clear gender perspective, and is not at the expense of other species with which we share the planet.

Our vision for trade policy

Read our paper 'Green trade for all'

Trade policy requires a rapid and radical rethink. Globalisation currently demands twice the resources that the planet can provide. We need a systematic transformation to ensure maximum human well-being with the minimum use of resources. Read our ideas and steps we can take right now, in our 'Green Trade for All' paper.

EU funding for New Alliance ignores murky world of land-grabs and human rights violations

On the face of it, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition looks like an extremely worthy project: encouraging private investment in African farming to help improve food production and reduce hunger and poverty.

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Lost in Translation

Back-room debates about the impact of trade secrets on whistle-blowers shows urgent need for EU wide whistle-blower protection

Today, unfortunately, the controversial Trade Secrets directive was formally adopted by the Council, but only after several delays due to disagreements over how specifically to translate a key provision in the text: the word "wrongdoing".

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Trade agreements

EU-Canada trade agreement must not be applied before full democratic ratification process

EU trade ministers will meet tomorrow (13 May) with the EU-Canada trade agreement (CETA) on the top of their agenda. Commenting ahead of the Trade Council, Green trade spokesperson Yannick Jadot stated: "There are legitimate concerns that the European Commission and EU governments in favour ...

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China/trade

EU should not consider China as market economy if criteria not met

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution setting out its position on the question of market economy status for China. After the vote, Green spokesperson on China Reinhard Bütikofer stated: "All the evidence makes clear that China is not a market economy. The EU therefore has no reaso...

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©alejandro-escamilla

The Greens/EFA Co-Presidents' briefing

10.05.2016

LIVE press conference 10 May 10:30-10:50

Greens/EFA co-presidents Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts present the key issues of the plenary session and of the European agenda for the Greens/EFA group

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China’s market economy status

Greens/EFA motion for resolution

Tabled by Reinhard Bütikofer, Yannick Jadot, Ska Keller, Philippe Lamberts, Claude Turmes, Bas Eickhout on behalf of the Greens/EFA Group The European Parliament, –  having regard to the EU’s anti-dumping legislation (Council Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009 of 30 November 2009 on prote...

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From seed to store, clothes production should be safe and sustainable

How many different stages do you think it takes to produce your clothes? Two? Twenty? In fact, the average number is closer to six, from planting the cotton seed to distribution on the shop floor. Six is not a big number. So why it is that retailers often don't know the conditions under which the clothes they sell were made?

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Open letter to President Obama

Greens/EFA MEPs address a letter to US President on TTIP

  Re: Hannover Industrial Fair Visit, April 23 2016   Dear President Obama, The United States and the European Union will soon commence the 13th round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Your visit to Hannover's Industrial Fair in...

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The "New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition"

A threat to local populations in Africa

Family farmers and small-holders are the main investors in African agriculture, collectively producing about 70% of the food in Africa and providing about 60% of employment in rural Africa. They need to be at the core of efforts to combat food and nutrition insecurity and be given a strong voice whe...

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