Anti-Poverty Protest at EU Headquarters

www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/27/ap4162554.html

Anti-poverty activist are protesting outside of the EU headquarters. They want the free trade negotiations to stop. They feel it will hurt the development that is taking place in poor countries. Years of talks between the EU and the APC or the (Asian Caribbean Pacific) group had to be haulted due to the fact that it did not benefit poor nations. They feel the agreement which will open up the countries market will cause agricultural and industrial problems. It would make it almost impossible for locals to compete. The EU Trade Commissioner wants them to come to terms by the end of the year or they will face possible import tariffs. They have to settle by January 1st for talks to be over because it is unfair for non ACP members. He feels that to stop the talks it would do more harm than good. He feels that it would be "playing poker with the livelihood of those we are trying to help." There are also some that fear African nations are not ready to handle a regional market. The negotiations are really behind and African nations are not cooperating. But the EU has promised a doubling of funds of by 2010, of 2.8 billion. Kendra Chilton