Resolution on Trade Liberalization

Manila 2011

WHEREAS:

• the Liberal Manifesto states “It is in the long-term self-interest of the developed world to encourage human progress, and assist economic development within poor countries; it is also a moral responsibility. Since open global markets best serve to promote prosperity, within both rich and poor countries, Liberals will have to aggressively re-emphasise, and to the best of their ability implement, their firm conviction that free trade, by giving the best opportunities to the economically weak, is the safest way towards overcoming poverty in the world.”
• the opening of trade has been an important element in the economic success of many countries.
• opening up their economies to the world has been crucial in enabling many developing countries to develop competitive advantages in the manufacture of certain products.
• the number of people in absolute poverty in developing countries, which opened their markets to global economy (defined by the World Bank as the ‘new globalizers’), has declined significantly
• further trade liberalization will be needed to realize global trade’s potential as a main force for economic growth and development.

NOTING THAT

• Agricultural subsidies in industrial countries are an important factor of destabilizing the agricultural sectors in developing countries.
• the Doha Round, which commenced in November 2001, is the current trade-negotiation round of the WTO (World Trade Organization). It’s objective is to lower trade barriers around the world, which allows countries to increase trade globally.
• As of 2008, talks have stalled over a divide on the issue of distorting financial incentives, such as national agriculture subsidies and import tariffs. The most significant differences in this matter are between developed nations led by the European Union (EU), the United States (USA), and Japan and the major developing countries led and represented mainly by Brazil, China, India, South Korea, and South Africa . There is also considerable contention against and between the EU and the USA over their maintenance of agricultural subsidies – seen to operate effectively as trade barriers.

CONSIDERING THAT

• For too long, reports of WTO negotiations have been dominated by opponent groups protesting against globalization and trade liberalization.
• For too long, reports of WTO negotiations have been dominated by a skewed power balance of national interests, in which the ‘Western’ countries have been over represented, and a lack of results.
• For too long, those of us that understand that trade liberalization is a very important way forward in building a peaceful and prosperous society have stood by in silence.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL

• calls upon its member organizations to to actively promote trade liberalization
• urges its member organizations to push their respective governments to conclude the Doha round of WTO negotiations no later than November 2011 e.g 10 years after the start.
• recommends to the national governments of countries that so far have not been willing to open their markets or that have done so to a limited extent to open them and grant the access to their markets for foreign economic subjects, in as much as countries and their populations will benefit from reciprocity in open markets and free trade..
• advocates to national governments of developed countries the reduction of high protectoral financial measures in agriculture, such as high tariffs, restrictive tariff quotas and agricultural subsidies.