Read on Twitter
#TradeDay21: here are some ideas on how #EUTrade can be better used to improve human rights and environmental standards worldwide - provided serious political will to use it as such. Follow the thread below 
@vonderleyen @VDombrovskis @JosepBorrellF @EamonGilmore
1/
@vonderleyen @VDombrovskis @JosepBorrellF @EamonGilmore
1/
First things first: literally everyone out there except the EU & western allies is in favour of a #TRIPSwaiver that would increase global access to vaccines and help us out of this deadly pandemic faster. EU/member states should urgently reconsider
2/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/24/eu-should-stop-blocking-efforts-increase-global-vaccine-access
2/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/24/eu-should-stop-blocking-efforts-increase-global-vaccine-access
On #China, should the EU really strengthen ties with a government responsible for crimes against humanity in #Xinjiang, incl. #FrocedLabour, without even commitments (!) by Beijing to halt abuses?
#CAI now frozen after sanctions, good time to reassess
3/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/04/19/china-crimes-against-humanity-xinjiang
#CAI now frozen after sanctions, good time to reassess
3/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/04/19/china-crimes-against-humanity-xinjiang
As #Bolsonaro keeps favoring the destruction of the Amazon, the pending #EUMercosur deal provides the bloc with considerable leverage. All EU actors should make it clear the deal can't even be considered unless concrete benchmarks (not pledges!) are met
4/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/31/europe-can-help-us-save-amazon
4/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/31/europe-can-help-us-save-amazon
The EU has also been negotiating a trade deal with #Indonesia. @hrw has documented how the government's race to clear land for #PalmOil plantations is affecting rights (and follow up report coming soon). These issues should be central to negotiations
5/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/22/indonesia-indigenous-peoples-losing-their-forests
5/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/22/indonesia-indigenous-peoples-losing-their-forests
And if anyone thinks strengthening trade ties with the EU leads automatically to improving rights and freedoms in a country, think again. Repression in #Vietnam has only intensified since #EVFTA ratification. Let it be a lesson (bitterly) learnt
6/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/22/vietnam-crackdown-ahead-party-congress
6/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/01/22/vietnam-crackdown-ahead-party-congress
The EU is also reforming its #GSP scheme, which links preferential access to EU market to respect for human rights. The new scheme should ensure higher transparency, NGO participation, predictability. Lot of discrepancies there to be addressed:...
7/
7/
...Hun Sen left the EU with no other choice than withdrawing #Cambodia's preferences: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/02/13/cambodia-eu-partially-suspends-trade-preferences
At the same time, serial abusers like #SriLanka, #Philippines, others have kept the benefits. And #Uzbekistan got them rather prematurely https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/04/uzbekistan-not-even-close-meriting-eus-trade-scheme
8/
At the same time, serial abusers like #SriLanka, #Philippines, others have kept the benefits. And #Uzbekistan got them rather prematurely https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/11/04/uzbekistan-not-even-close-meriting-eus-trade-scheme
8/
The EU has recently updated its #DualUse rules to limit exports of surveillance technology to abusive governments. But improvements are so fragile that we'll only see positive results if a rigorous application of the new legislation is ensured
9/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/25/eu-robustly-carry-out-new-surveillance-tech-rules
9/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/25/eu-robustly-carry-out-new-surveillance-tech-rules
Last but far from least, a new #DueDiligence legislation is in the pipeline to prevent, mitigate and remedy businesses' negative human rights & environmental impacts.
MEPs did their part, now looking forward to an ambitious proposal by @dreynders
10/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/24/recommendations-new-eu-legislation-mandatory-human-rights-and-environmental-due
MEPs did their part, now looking forward to an ambitious proposal by @dreynders
10/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/24/recommendations-new-eu-legislation-mandatory-human-rights-and-environmental-due
A lot more can be done (import ban on #forcedlabour goods, more ambitious environmental laws, etc), but the steps above can have a big, concrete, positive impact on the rights of so many and on the #ClimateCrisis.
The EU should live by its pledges, and lead by example.
/END
The EU should live by its pledges, and lead by example.
/END
