This email action has now closed.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the email action to Margaret Beckett, the British Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). More than 13,160 people took part in the campaign action, which one official in DEFRA told us it caused the department "great concern". Oxfam, WWF and Birdlife International continue to press the EU to do more in its reform proposal to address the concerns of developing countries.

To make any difference to poor farmers, any reform of Europe’s sugar regime must end dumping. It must also stimulate greater imports from developing countries by offering better market access, and give more and better targeted aid.

Currently, the EU is proposing only yet they’ve been offered only €40 million to 18 sugar producing countries that have historical links to Europe and no compensation to some of the poorest countries in the world. By comparison, Europe has earmarked €1.53 billion for its sugar farmers and a further €4.2 billion restructuring fund for European sugar factories.

Europe could inject real momentum in moribund WTO trade talks by reforming its sugar regime specifically to help poor country farmers and the environment. We will keep you updated on the latest developments. It’s high time for the EU to make its sugar trade fair.

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