Trade Differently!
Trade and trade agreements are necessary if economies and societies are to flourish.
However, we need to break with the current free trade regime. Dominated by the
interests of rich countries, large landowners in the Global South and multinational
companies, this regime has for far too long facilitated the depletion of natural resources, climate change and the violation of human. Small-scale farmers and workers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are also the victims of this race to the bottom on the world market.
The reform of the international trade system is, like the global corona crisis, a worldwide problem that we can only address effectively through a joint effort. The Netherlands has the ambition to lead in this and the potential to do so.
However, if the Netherlands wants to fulfil this role, it must give up on business as usual and bring about a new generation of trade agreements. International trade should occur in the service of people, animals and the environment, rather than at their expense. This booklet by the Trade Differently coalition shows not only that the change is possible and necessary, but especially how we can bring it about.
Themes
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Dossier /Investment treaties
Investment treaties must be inclusive, sustainable and fair. That means that they must not put the interests of companies before those of people and…
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Dossier /Trade agreements
International trade agreements often have far-reaching consequences not only for the economy of a country, but also for people and the environment…
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News / 2 April 2014Saying NO! to free trade agreements
Today, on the 2nd of April, activists from Africa and Europe are staging a protest action in front of the European Parliament in Brussels to make the voices of the poor and marginalised citizens heard. Holding banners and chanting slogans to the beat of djembe drums, they asked the African and European governments to prioritise peoples’ rights and interest in their trade deals and particularly, in the EU trade and development policies with…
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Publication / 31 December 2020
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Publication / 21 September 2015
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Publication / 30 October 2023
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Event / 22 February 2022, 16:00 - 17:30Webinar and launch of new publication about EU-Mercosur
What is the EU-Mercosur association treaty and why is it controversial? What could be the implications of the treaty for people and their livelihoods both in EU and Mercosur countries? For more information about these and other issues, see our new publication and join our interactive webinar next week…
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News / 11 December 2015What are we going to do at the WTO-conference in Nairobi?
Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, will be the epicenter of international trade from 15 to 18 December 2015. The representatives of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which currently has 162 member countries, will come together to negotiate. The different countries tend to have very different and often conflicting interests, which makes it difficult to reach agreements. Burghard Ilge of Both ENDS travels with Minister Ploumen as an official adviser and mediator from civil society. His role is to inform the Minister about the views and interests of civil society organisations around the world, in order…
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Publication / 7 November 2018
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News / 14 October 20165 alternative arguments against TTIP
Both ENDS will join the protest against trade treaties TTIP, CETA and TiSA on Saturday October 22nd in Amsterdam. These treaties will have negative…
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Publication / 7 July 2022
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Publication / 10 March 2016
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Publication / 4 April 2019
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News / 14 September 2017What to think of the EU’s Multilateral Investment Court
Remember the widespread protests against trade agreements TTIP and CETA? One of the main worries was the Investor-State Dispute Settlement…
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Publication / 19 September 2016
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Press release / 23 May 202360th anniversary of Dutch bilateral investment treaties no cause for celebration
On 23 May, the Netherlands celebrates 60 years of bilateral investment treaties (BITs). The first BIT was signed with Tunisia in 1963. These treaties were intended to make an important contribution to protecting foreign investments by Dutch companies. A study by SOMO, Both ENDS and the Transnational Institute (TNI), however, shows that in practice they mainly give multinationals a powerful instrument that has far-reaching consequences people and…
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News / 21 January 2019Launch of European campaign against unfair investment agreements
Today an alliance of more than 150 organisations, trade unions and social movements in countries across Europe is launching a joint programme against unfair trade and investment agreements, and especially against the controversial Investor-to-State-Dispute-Settlement (ISDS) mechanism. Under ISDS…
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Publication / 12 April 2022
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Press release / 25 October 2021New report: EU-Mercosur trade agreement a disaster for people and the environment
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement leads to environmental destruction, violation of the land rights of farmers and indigenous people and the loss of industrial jobs in the Mercosur countries. It also creates unfair competition for European farmers. The Handel Anders! coalition is calling for an alternative agreement to improve the political cooperation between the EU and the Mercosur countries and is making proposals for just and…
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News / 11 November 2024Kenya Terminates Bilateral Investment Treaty with the Netherlands
The government of Kenya has officially terminated its bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the Netherlands, marking a significant win for economic justice and environmental protection. Kenya’s decision reflects a growing global trend of rethinking outdated treaties that often prioritize corporate interests over public welfare. The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development recently confirmed that Kenya unilaterally ended the treaty in December 2023, rendering it inoperative from 11 June 2024. Kenya now joins South Africa, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso as the fourth African country to…
