Tony Blair Tries to Push Rich Countries on Trade

U.K.'s Prime Minister Tony Blair wants to triple the amount that he had made available for trade aid in the following five years. Secretary David Willetts said in response to Blair's statement that he was giving "lofty speeches" and that he was missing a valuable opportunity to reduce trade subsidies, according to BBC.

Tony Blair says: "In a modern world there is no security or prosperity at home unless we deal with the global challenges of conflict, terrorism, climate change and poverty.
Self interest and mutual interest are inextricably linked. National interests can best be advanced through collective action".

Blair's speech was powerful and made an impact on the ones that were listening, but Mr. Willetts said to BBC Radio 4's Today program that the Prime Minister had a similar speech to the European Parliament in July.

Tony Blair also expressed the need of World Trade Organization to signal the end of export subsidies in what the agricultural products are concerned, at the meeting that takes place in Hong Kong in December.

"The WTO has not yet responded sufficiently to the needs of developing countries," Mr Blair said. "The key is agriculture. In Africa, increased access to rich countries' markets is an important way to deliver this."

Today, the Prime Minister started a four-day visit to China and India; the topics on the agenda were those of climate change and cutting poverty, topics that he hopes to stand at the basis of a series of international summits.