About AFTINET

AFTINET is a national network of community organisations and many individuals concerned about trade and investment policy.

AFTINET grew out of the successful campaign by community organisations against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), which had attempted to restrict the ability of governments to regulate both investment and key areas of social policy.

The collapse of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha round of trade negotiations at the end of 2011 showed that the world trading system is failing to meet the needs of developing countries for fairer trade rules which do not erode social policies.

Community organisations have continued the debate about international trade agreements and have demanded greater accountability by the Australian government for its role in the WTO and in bilateral and regional trade agreements like the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

AFTINET supplies education materials, regular bulletins and speakers at public events. We make submissions to government and opposition parties to change Australian trade policy. We form links with similar organisations in other countries to argue for different and fairer rules for international trade and investment. To see the work that we're doing currently see our campaigns.

Whilst AFTINET does not sell fair-traded products for more information about companies that do please see our links page.

To become a member/supporter of AFTINET click here.

AFTINET Principles

There is widespread concern that current trade
policy gives priority to the flow of goods, services, investment and
finance at the expense of local development, protection of the
environment and human rights.

Trade agreements can restrict the scope of
legitimate government regulation in many areas. Under the guise of
deregulation and free trade, regulatory powers are in fact transferred
to international institutions beyond the reach of democratic
accountability.

Trade disputes processes, conducted behind
closed doors, have defined environmental regulation, food safety
regulation, and local industry policies as barriers to trade. These
decisions can be enforced through trade sanctions.

There is a wealth of international law developed through the United Nations (UN) on human rights, labour rights, cultural development, rights of indigenous people, the environment and health and safety. UN processes are more transparent and accountable than those of trade agreements, and its agreements are enacted through domestic legislation in each member country. In some cases trade disputes processes have undermined established principles recognised in international environment and health law such as the precautionary principle, that is, the right to restrict potential dangers to health and environment. Some trade and investment agreements give rights to foreign investors to sue governments if public regulation harms their investment.

Thus trade processes can deliver favourable trade and investment conditions for some corporations but foster a race to the bottom on regulatory standards. Developing country government and non-government organisations have criticised the lack of transparency of trade negotiations and the domination by the governments of the most powerful economies.

We reject a "fortress Australia" protectionist
strategy and welcome the development of fair trading relationships with
all countries. However we believe that trade and investment policy
should be based on local conditions and fair regulatory standards and
should be decided through democratically accountable processes.

AFTINET Aims and Objectives

• a critical re-assessment of the WTO and other trade structures and dispute processes;

• greater public discussion and accountability for government trade policy and for international trade negotiation processes;

• a trade and investment framework which does
not erode local ability to regulate on issues of economic development,
the environment, human rights and labour rights;

• more effective representation of developing
countries and more effective international regulation through the
United Nations on the environment, human rights and labour rights.

AFTINET:

• monitors trade and investment negotiation processes;

• establishes contacts with similar international networks;

• exchanges information and basic educational material on trade issues;

• raises community awareness and debate through public events and activities and

• seeks to change trade and investment policy based on these principles

JOIN AFTINET

You can become an individual or organisational
member/supporter of AFTINET. Subscribers receive the same benefits as
members but don't have voting rights and are not bound by the
constitution. For more information on how to join click here.

AFTINET structures and constitution

The AFTINET constitution provides a basic democratic structure for the organisation. Members elect a working group which administers the organisation. The working group keeps membership and financial records and reports to annual general meetings of members. AFTINET is registered under Commonwealth legislation as a company limited by guarantee to limit the financial liability of members to their membership fee.

Organisations and individuals who do not wish to become members can become subscribers. This means they receive all other benefits of membership but cannot vote at meetings and are not bound by the constitution.

A copy of the constitution is available from the address and email address at the bottom of this page.

AFTINET subscription form

You can subscribe as an individual or organisation.

Subscribers will receive:

• regular AFTINET publications

• regular e-mail bulletins with relevant news, analysis and AFTINET events

• access to the bulletin to publicise their own events relevant to AFTINET.