Catholic aid agencies criticize U.S., EU for collapse of trade talks

Published: 2006-07-26

LONDON (CNS) -- Catholic aid agencies in Britain and Ireland have criticized the United States and European Union for the collapse of trade talks aimed at helping the world's poor. The English and Welsh bishops' Catholic Agency for Overseas Development joined Trocaire, the aid agency of the Irish bishops, in criticizing the United States and the European Union for the failure of the so-called Doha round. The talks ended July 24 when trade negotiators at a World Trade Organization summit in Geneva were unable to find common ground. Analysts said the collapse of the talks -- named after Doha, Qatar, where they began in 2001 -- means that poor countries may continue to be denied access to wealthy markets. "The immediate cause of the collapse was the intransigence of the U.S.," Matt Griffin, CAFOD's trade analyst, said in a statement July 24. "The Americans put the interests of their farm lobby groups before developing countries and the WTO itself. "The EU must also take responsibility for the talks reaching this sad point," he said. "They consistently put the needs of their own farmers and business above the needs of the poor."

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