13th November 2006

The world's largest container ship - the Emma Maersk - has docked at Felixtowe with 45,000 tonnes of Christmas gifts many of which are bound for Gloucestershire (i). Gloucestershire Greens argue this symbolises the increasing dominance of Chinese exports made cheap by poor labour and environmental standards.

Cllr Philip Booth, a Stroud District councillor, said: "This is not good news for Gloucestershire businesses, the environment or chinese workers. China's rapidly-growing trade with the EU is having a significant impact on job security, while its ruthless competition with other developing countries on products like textiles and footwear is driving down social and environmental standards right across the world. The beneficiaries of this are primarily transnational corporations, not the Chinese workers who, as well as suffering from some of the worst labour exploitation in the world, are themselves also losing jobs at a phenomenal rate."

Philip Booth said: "We urgently need to reassess the role of international trade in our economies, and look at where we can produce more of our goods closer to home. The Stern report makes it clearer than ever that the environmental costs of long-distance trade need to be properly taken into account. We must manage international trade in a way which is socially and environmentally sustainable, working towards global agreement on a raft of measures such as taxation on fuel, and import tariffs designed to support home-grown businesses and offset the environmental damage caused by ships like the Emma Maersk plying international waters filled with MP3 players and plastic toys."

Philip Booth added: "The global rules governing free international trade are based on a fallacy: that countries enjoy comparative advantages in one sector or another, due to particular skills or access to resources, and if they specialise in those areas, everyone will benefit. China increasingly has an absolute advantage in many areas of economic activity, based on a combination of artificially low labour costs (since its non-unionised work force face low pay, long hours, and safety laws are routinely violated) and increasing expertise in hi-tech areas."

Note:

(i) BBC report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/6117080.stm