In the eve of the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong, I reflect deeply on the issue of free trade. I used to be a strong believer in it, and pin my hope that free trade will eventually bring welfare to all, the developing and third world countries included.



What happened in the last decade disappoint me much. I saw the riches and power countries US, EU alike, while gaining unimpeded access to markets of others, are themselves putting up a host of trade barriers and unfair trade practices like subsides to their own farmers, imposing anti-dumping duties on imports. The recent resurrection of textile quotas is another case in point. As a result, the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. To be honest, my faith in free trade is starting to shake big time.



Let’s just hope in the coming week, developed powerhouses like the US and EU can set aside their own short-term interest and work towards a fairer trade regime for all in the coming week in Hong Kong. It is only through true and honest free trade that the smaller players and the less privileged will have a fighting chance.



In the past few months, I had opportunities to tour a number of third world countries. The following some of many heart broken scenes I came across. They were taken in Vietnam. What saddened me most is when I saw people had to work so hard all days for peanuts. They have no choice. They need to stay alive. Pollution problems, to many of them, while important, are unfortunately just distant issues when their number one priority is to struggle hard to feed their family, day in and day out. To them, life must go on regardless. How sad! And how unfair!































Freedom and dignity can wait. Just give them food and clean water first.



Let's be fair. Give their hard earned products and produce a fair chance in the name of true free trade.