Trade and investment rules determine the type of globalisation we live under. They shape the global economy and restrict governments from taking certain action.

Trade in services agreements restrict governments from regulating multinational companies, restricts how they can provide public services, facilitates privatisation and provides right to multinational companies that workers and governments do not have. Some agreements create private, secret courts that allow multinational companies to sue governments for lost profits if they don’t like democratic decisions made by governments.

This project helps workers and their unions have a say in the trade negotiations that affect them at a national, regional and global level.

The project monitors these negotiations, produces research that makes sense of the provisions, explains them in simple terms and supports affiliates to be involved.

The project raises awareness amongst the users of public services, builds public political pressure and lobbies the WTO, regional forums and national governments for fairer trade rules that support workers and public services and end the entrenchment of corporate privilege. It also builds national campaigns in selected countries.

We currently work in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, India, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Morocco.