10-point paper: Civil society calls for a social-ecological shift in trade policy
Berlin, 26.06.2025: More than a dozen civil society organizations are demanding a radical change of course in trade policy from the new federal government. In the face of global crises and increasing geopolitical tensions, they warn against further eroding social, environmental and human rights standards. Instead of deregulation, they demand sustainability, justice and transparency.
In particular, the organisations criticise:
- the threat of weakening of the European Supply Chain Act;
- the planned conclusion of climate-damaging trade agreements, such as the one between the EU and Mercosur;
- and the continued export of products banned in the EU to countries with lower environmental and consumer protection standards.
10 concrete demands submit them to the Federal Government, including a halt to investor-state litigation rights, an end to surplus exports in agricultural markets and comprehensive capacity building for trading partners in the Global South. The signatory organisations also call for a moratorium on new free trade agreements, renegotiation of existing treaties and a clear commitment to international labour and environmental standards. Greater involvement of civil society actors in trade policy is also essential.
“The federal government must stop sacrificing environmental and labour standards on the altar of free trade”, criticises Thomas Fritz, Head of Trade and Investment Policy at PowerShift. “The US trade war is not a justification to capture the achievements of the European Green Deal.”
"The federal government must no longer hide behind geopolitical arguments to assert corporate interests at the expense of the environment and human rights," says Hanni Gramann, trade expert at Attac Deutschland.
"Only a trade policy that is fair, ecological and democratic will meet the challenges of our time", warns Ludwig Essig, Coordinator of the Network of Fair World Trade and Trade Policy Officer for the Munich Institute for the Environment.
The complete receivables document can be found here: https://www.gerechter-welthandel.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/10-Erwartungen-an-die-neue-Bundesregierung.pdf
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
- Thomas Fritz (PowerShift): 0160-93231548
- Hanni Gramann (Attac): 0176-30608762
