WEST Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox joined campaigners in London recently to call on the Government to put trade justice at the heart of Britain?s efforts to make poverty history. Thousands of activists and representatives, including groups from all over West Devon and Torridge, travelled to London to lobby Parliament. Mr Cox expressed support for the Trade Justice Movement and commended the campaigners for their success in raising the profile of the issue. After meeting the delegation from West Devon and Torridge (pictured below) he said: ?Free trade must be our ultimate goal. By reducing tariff barriers and export subsidies we can allow developing countries to trade their way out of debt and reduce their independence on international aid. ?However, it is entirely wrong to force these countries to open their internal markets to foreign competitors.? He backed the foundation of an advocacy fund, financed by developed nations, to provide legal advice to developing countries, to compensate for the lack of expertise, allowing the interests of the most powerful nations from dominating negotiations in bodies such as the World Trade Organisation. Mr Cox said later: ?Every nation will progress towards the goal of free trade at different rates and will require varying levels of support. ?There is no single solution to the problems of extreme poverty, trade imbalances and debt that can be universally applied ?a the international community must recognise this and provide the world?s poorest countries with appropriate assistance.?