The Trade and Poverty Forum (TPF) is an independent forum composed of highly regarded citizens from six key developing and industrialized democracies: Brazil, India, South Africa, Japan, the European Union, and the United States. A project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), TPF was established in 2002 to mobilize political will and economic resources in the global fight against poverty.

While today's globalizing world has the potential to bring great benefits to many, vast numbers of the world's poor find themselves left out and left behind. TPF members agree that this is unacceptable, and that the fight against poverty deferred once again to another day.

In a global era where rage, despair and alienation cross borders as easily as people, ideas and capital, poverty threatens the security of all nations. It makes nations vulnerable to extremism, conflict, terrorism and potential failure. It fuels destabilizing ills such as crime, disease and environmental degradation. It can fuel the violent rejection of open economic and political institutions, undermining democracy, effective governance, and sustained economic growth and development.

TPF members believe that both industrial and developing nations have an equal stake in strengthening the credibility of the global economy, and that the voices of national legislatures, industry, and civil society are critical in discussions about world trade.

For all of the above reasons, TPF members have mobilized around a set of concrete recommendations in three critical policy areas that are requisite for addressing poverty and reaching trade agreements that meet the needs of the both industrial and developing countries. These are:

At their March 2004 meeting, TPF members agreed to these recommendations in a Call to Action. Since then, TPF members have endeavored to build broad coalitions of businesses, NGOs, labour unions, and legislators in support of these recommendations.

In the coming year, TPF members intend to present their calls for reform to key government leaders and decision-makers both within their home political systems and also at several international meetings including the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, and the 6th World Trade Organization Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong. Through its global outreach efforts, TPF members hope to expand this coalition in each of their countries, and to educate their governments and citizens about the urgent need to act.

TPF is composed of highly regarded citizens from the following key developing and industrialized democracies: Brazil, the European Union, India, Japan, South Africa, and the United States.

The Trade and Poverty Forum is made possible with the support of GMF and the following partner institutions:

For more information, contact Nicola Hagen, Program Officer, GMF in Washington, D.C.