There are a series of trade initiatives that are sponsored and/or driven by the U.S. government through a variety of mechanisms which are moving at a rapid pace. Trade and investment policies will have major impacts on the region and globally. The Global Women's Project at the Center of Concern is concerned with the gender and social impacts of trade and investment agreements that favor corporate interests over national sovereignty and the rights of people, the market over real development needs.

The below fact sheets critique the impact that these policies are having on women, their families and their communities. They are designed to serve a proactive role in critiquing and shaping the power relationships behind these policies. Because of our role as gender activists in the North, we recognize and oppose the fact that the U.S. is using a variety of mechanisms to push an agenda which is hindering the common good.

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

• USAID is funding trade capacity programs with the end goal of paving the way for U.S. companies to access new markets abroad.
• USAID spent 82.1 million dollars over the last three years to support capacity building on the WTO agreements.
• USAID is focused on three major areas in its aid for trade: 1. Agriculture 2. Services 3. Singapore Issues (Competition Policy, Transparency, Investment)