Message for the G8: Tariffs Can Make Poor Countries Richer Says PlanB4fashion
Smarter tariffs can reduce poverty; free trade can increase it according to PlanB4fashion, one of the many voices protesting against the state of the fashion industry and the assumptions of G8 leaders
Online, June 18, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian & Chinese governments can reduce poverty. The mothods that worked in the UK 100 years ago were universal schooling and national insurance. Schooling for girls helped them become more assertive and reduced the rate of child birth. Pensions helped parents plan for old age without having to have as many children as they possibly could. Other benefits and factory safety laws were important too, as most of us know.
European and US government can change the tariffs that tax trade from countries without democratic welfare states like Bangladesh or China. This helps people in Bangladesh as well as their cousins in Bolton. There is a consensus. A formula can start to be worked-out over time. More democracy earns a lower tariff - there is already a democracy index that could help this one get started. More of a welfare state earns a lower tariff. More human rights earn a lower tariff. And the reverse could also be true, so a country with more expensive exports because of the cost of a welfare state can still compete on price with China. Maybe such a policy will even help people in China!
For small orders & niche markets, factories in the UK can also compete more faiirly if their rivals' employees in the far east have to pay national insurance or a tariff.
The manifesto also covers some things that UK government can do in the UK to help employment, including changes to London Fashion Week and release of trade data that describes which factories make which products.
-ends
(1) note for editors: About the G8
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/g8-factsheet-trade/g8-factsheet-trade
lists these objectives of the UK government at the G8 summit, after a paragraph of explanation:
"G8 action: As part of its G8 Presidency, the UK will:
-support free trade on a global scale through the World Trade Organisation in Bali
-support ambitious trade agreements
-support the aim of African countries to cut crossing times at border posts & double intra-African trade by 2022
-ensure that countries in all stages of development can benefit from the relaxation of trade restrictions. The
G8 will be working particularly with partners from industry, civil society and national governments
-work with Deauville Partners to cut at trade and investment barriers, and to develop market solutions"
(2) note for editors: about https://facebook.com/planB4fashion
PlanB4fashion is one of many plans and suggestions put by G8 protesters and does not reflect the views of any members or other organisations. "I just got cross one day and set-up a facebook page", says John Robertson, the person behind it. "My background is in reducing poverty in the UK. I work in the fashion industry and see people writing the first things that came into their heads about 'ethical fashion', including the bunch that are subsidised by UK taxpayers at London Fashion Week. They are pretty exclusive, so I thought I'd write down my ideas and hand them to people going into ethical trade events. I haven't done that yet, but I have a multi-point plan that anyone is welcome to copy".