US "Gives With One Hand, Takes With The Other" In Africa

Oxfam-America
Tuesday, 8 July 2003

"All of us share a common vision for the future of Africa. We look to the day when prosperity for Africa is built through trade and markets."
—President George W. Bush, January 2003

As President Bush prepares to leave for his week-long visit to Africa, Oxfam is calling on him to address the enormous harm being done to the continent by unfair US trade policies.

While Oxfam welcomes the Administration's pledge of $15 billion to help fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases, the agency says the US is seriously undermining its own generosity by failing to reform the way it trades with Africa.

"President Bush extols the virtues of free markets and level playing fields, but the export subsidies paid to large corporate farms in the US call into question these ideals and force millions of poor African farmers into poverty," said Phil Twyford of Oxfam.

American cotton growers are paid subsidies worth $4 billion a year and produce vast surpluses of cheap cotton. This has contributed to a downward spiral in the world price of cotton, forcing 11 million West African farmers into deeper poverty as they can no longer get a fair price for their produce.

The US is also blocking any agreement at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that could allow poor countries to import cheap generic copies of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS.

"By blocking negotiations that would give African countries access to the cheap medicines they so desperately need, the US is undermining its pledge of more money for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS," said Twyford.

"It's a classic case of giving with one hand while at the same time snatching away with the other."

For more information, or to contact Oxfam-America, see their website at: www.oxfamamerica.org