FTAs and public health in Chile: The need for a policy research agenda

In 2003 Chile and the US signed an all encompassing Free Trade Agreement. This was followed by FTAs with the EU, China, Japan, India and all the world major economies. As a result, Chile has become a gateway into Latin America for multinational companies. Considerable prima facie evidence indicates that trade liberalization has had significant impact on public health. However these issues are mainly absent from the country Public Health policy debate. Modeled on the APHA T & H Forum, the School of Public Health of the University of Chile engaged in an T & H advocacy program leading to creation of a research and policy agenda. The program gathers and disseminates information on trade globalization impact on health and social justice as it affects vulnerable populations. Special attention is paid to impact on worker health as a prime ezample that "globalization of trade" has evidently not been accompanied by "globalization of rights". This presentation will report on the evidence gathered and the progress achieved during the first year of this program. It will also invite feedback and solidarity from interested APHA colleagues.