Sir, Current trade negotiations between the EU and some of the world’s poorest countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) should result in trade agreements that help to bring about justice. In fact they threaten to undermine recent progress towards making poverty history.

Negotiations on economic partnership agreements (EPAs) were launched five years ago today, with the aim of determining future trade relations between the two regions by the end of 2007. These agreements were specifically meant to be development-friendly.

However, what is currently on the table is far from this. The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, is offering what are essentially free-trade agreements between very unequal partners.

The UK Government has previously taken a pro-development stance on EPAs. As Christian leaders, we are compelled to action by a biblical understanding of justice as taking the side of the poor and oppressed. As the deadline approaches, we join church leaders from Europe and Africa in urging the Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, to show leadership again.

We urge the Government to do all it can to ensure that EPAs do not force ACP countries to open their markets prematurely or to accept issues they have previously rejected in other trade negotiations, and to make sure they will be no worse off if EPAs are not signed by the end-of-year deadline.

THE RIGHT REV MICHAEL LANGRISH, Lord Bishop of Exeter, member of the board of Christian Aid, on behalf of:

THE REV MARTYN ATKINS, President of the Methodist Conference

THE REV JONATHAN EDWARDS, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain

THE RIGHT REV JOHN GLADWIN, Lord Bishop of Chelmsford, Chair, Christian Aid

THE REV PROF STEPHEN ORCHARD, Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church

THE REV JOEL EDWARDS, General Director, the Evangelical Alliance

ELAINE STORKEY, Tear Fund President and 11 others

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