Trade for wellbeing, not just for profit
5 Quaker organisations from Europe and the United States, including QCEA, are asking governments to reject the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) as a basis for future trade rules. TTIP is a controversial trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).
Properly regulated trade can bring many benefits. However, QCEA fears that TTIP prioritises short-term economic gains over longer-term factors necessary to human wellbeing and the protection of the Earth.
Resources
- Trade for wellbeing, not just for profit: a shared Quaker Statement on TTIP and free trade agreements. This statement, signed by five Quaker organisations on either side of the Atlantic, outlines the fundamental Quaker concerns with TTIP and calls for a trade system that contributes to a more equal, economically just and sustainable world.
Download the statement here. - The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: a briefing for Friends. This briefing, produced jointly with Quaker Peace and Social Witness, highlights our concerns about TTIP.
Download the briefing here. - Press release, explaining why Quaker organisations for Europe and the USA are asking governments to rethink global trade rules, and say ‘no’ to TTIP.
Take action
- Write to your parliamentary representative asking them to reject TTIP and to raise concerns about the deal with your Minister for Trade (or similar). Many EU governments are in favour of TTIP so it’s important that they hear from constituents with a different viewpoint
- You can also contact your MEP or local authority.
Download our TTIP action guide for more information and suggestions about key points to make in your letters. Produced in partnership with Quaker Peace and Social Witness. Download the action guide here.
What’s wrong with TTIP?
- TTIP is set to include a controversial mechanism by which foreign companies could sue governments for introducing social, environmental, health or other legislation believed to threaten profitability. This threatens democracy, by prioritising profitability above the ability of governments to protect the environment, public health, consumer safety and more.
- TTIP is just one part of a web of major trade deals being pursued by the EU and US. Together these deals could hamper international commitments to tackle climate change and global poverty, including the recently agreed Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Quakers are calling for a fundamental rethink of global trade rules so that trade is open to public scrutiny, contributes to fairly shared prosperity and has a positive impact on the environment.
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