World Trade Organization

U.S. Unions Rally Thousands Against China Trade Deal

Agence France Presse / Olivier Knox WASHINGTON, April 12 (AFP) - Major US unions and other foes of granting China permanent trade privileges rallied thousands of protesters at the US Congress Wednesday before deploying them to win over lawmakers.

China Confident of WTO Deal with European Union

Agence France Presse | April 12, 2000 KUALA LUMPUR - China said Wednesday it would soon resume talks with the European Union on its accession to the World Trade Organisation and was confident of reaching a deal.

Jordan Joins World Trade Group

GENEVA (AP) -- Jordan on Tuesday officially became the 136th member of the World Trade Organization, giving the resource-barren Arab kingdom greater access to world markets. The middle eastern nation was accepted into the body which sets global trade rules, 30 days after the agreement with the WTO on Jordan's conditions for membership was ratified by the Jordanian parliament.

EU and Gulf States in Talks on Free Trade Deal

Agence France Presse RIYADH, April 11 (AFP) - Officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union began talks Tuesday in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on a free-trade agreement, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported.

Under Siege, IMF, World Bank Policymakers Plan Spring Meeting

Agence France Presse / Nathaniel Harrison WASHINGTON, April 11 (AFP) - IMF and World Bank policymakers gather here later this week to debate the future of the global economy but their closed-door deliberations could easily be eclipsed by massive street protests.

Daley Urges Support of China Trade Deal

By ASHLEY BAKER WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- Acknowledging that trade alone was not likely to deter government-sponsored human rights abuses within China, Commerce Secretary William Daley told lawmakers on Tuesday that including Beijing in the world trading system would nevertheless create a better, more stable and safer world.

Developing Countries Fault Quad Package; Say It Falls Short of Expectations on Access

GENEVA--Developing countries that are members of the World Trade Organization have criticized a proposal from the United States, European Union, Japan and Canada aimed at improving access to their markets for the trade body's poorest members.

South Summit to Focus on Freer International Trade

IPS | April 10, 2000 | By Anthony Stoppard JOHANNESBURG - Economic issues -- like kick-starting the next round of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks and making sure that developing economies benefit from freer international trade -- will dominate the agenda of the South Summit, which opens in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday.

Lamy Will Return to China to Resume WTO Talks "When the Moment is Right"

Agence France Presse LUXEMBOURG, April 10 (AFP) - EU top trade negotiator Pascal Lamy said Monday he would return to Beijing to resume trade talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organization only "when the time is right." Lamy said: "I have no fixed date, no time frame, but I have flexibility to decide myself when to return, in concert with my Chinese counterparts."

Clinton China-Trade Address Urged

Associated Press / Tom Raum, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House Ways and Means Committee chairman urged President Clinton on Monday to give a televised address to the nation laying out his case for extending permanent trade privileges to China.