World urgently needs fair and barrier-free trade
Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the United Nations’ Assembly as part of the new 2030 Development Agenda, have established highly ambitious goals and targets, affecting a wide range of issues like poverty, food security, natural resources, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, economic equality, industrialisation and innovation.
Therefore, in order to achieve these universal and multilaterally endorsed goals, we must establish a vibrant and sound framework of policies, particularly in relation to fair, free trade and investments.
It is my belief that the world urgently needs new, fairer, international, financial commitments and trade agreements to facilitate the trade between nations, on an even and barrier-free basis.
We have all witnessed recently the emergence of a new kind of trade war between the biggest nations, as opposed to the past where we had witnessed the globalisation of free trade, aiming at economic growth and wealth creation for all nations.
The adoption of trade protectionism measures, which are manifested in the imposition of various tariffs as a leverage to stop imports from other countries and foreign markets, constitutes a serious setback.
The prevailing principle of trade protectionism is to serve the national interests of these powerful nations, which at the same time undermines the efforts to achieve the SDGs.
And let me point out here that these are the same nations that have signed the 2030 Development Agenda, pledging for the implementation of the SDGs.
The above anomaly highlights the existing shortcomings in international trade governance frameworks and the need to assess other possible ways for addressing them, such as multilateral negotiations or regional agreements.
Anna Theologou, independent MP for the Famagusta District,