Washing machine wars: Trade agreements not helping poor women, study claims

It is commonly argued that cheaper imports reduce poverty in a country because they enable the poor to spend, which in turn boosts the economy.

But new research has cast doubt on this argument, with findings indicating that the majority of women, especially the poor, are unlikely to be able to take advantage of imports resulting from the new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).

Carolina Gottardo, Head of Policy and Advocacy at One World Action, which conducted the study with the Commonwealth Secretariat, explains that at first glance cheaper imports – including washing machines and gas cookers - “seem like a fantastic idea, especially for women who bear the brunt of most household duties in the developing world.”

What are Economic Partnership Agreements?

Economic Partnership Agreements are regional trade agreements between the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of countries and the European Union which aim to sustain their development and reduce poverty.

Yet the reality, she says, is that these kind of goods which are affected by the new trade policies, do not benefit poor women.

“Items such as washing machines are of no use in some developing economies, because houses have limited access to electricity,” she points out, adding that they can only be afforded by households with higher incomes and easy access to energy sources.

“These and other examples prompt the need for a holistic approach at negotiations, which should not be gender blind,” she argues. “The negotiators must conduct thorough assessments of the situation of women and men in individual countries, and consider the fact that systemic discrimination of women limits their access to existing infrastructure and assets.”

The study – which is the first of its kind – concludes that a combination of measures and policies are needed to ensure benefits of trade liberalisation are felt by the masses, and do not remain in the hands of the privileged few, excluding poor women.

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Source:Commonwealth secretariat