Blair & Bush: it's time for free trade

By Penny Hawthorne | 16 September 2005

At the UN this week, Tony Blair and George Bush recommitted themselves to the fight for free trade in agriculture. On Thursday, as the BBC reports:

Tony Blair said he would not accept failure to agree reforms to alleviate poverty at a world trade gathering without a "monumental struggle".

Mr Blair pledged to start calling bluffs made on tariffs and subsidies, ahead of a World Trade Organisation meeting in Hong Kong in December.

The previous day, President Bush said:

"We must work together in the Doha (WTO) negotiations to eliminate agricultural subsidies that distort trade and stunt development, and to eliminate tariffs and other barriers to open markets for farmers around the world," said President Bush.

"Today, I broaden the challenge by making this pledge: The United States is ready to eliminate all tariffs and subsidies and other barriers to the free flow of goods and services as other nations do the same.

"The elimination of trade barriers could lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the next 15 years."