Justice

ADB Pledges to Fight Poverty

Reuters Asia's top banking showcase drew to a close on Monday amid tight security with promises of a region-wide fight against poverty. The last day of the Asian Development Bank annual meeting in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai focused on an ADB plan to channel hundreds of millions of dollars into targetted anti-poverty programmes.

Unocal ""Smoking Gun"" Alleged

By William Branigin / Washington Post Staff Writer Attorneys for a group of Burmese refugees say they have discovered a "smoking gun" document supporting their claims that a major U.S. oil company should be held accountable for human rights violations related to construction of a natural gas pipeline in Burma.

U.S. Panel Urges Congress to Reject China Pact

By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A commission appointed by the White House and Congress urged lawmakers on Monday to deny permanent trading benefits to China, citing Beijing's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement and other religious groups.

China Warns U.S. Over Trade Status

BEIJING (AP) - With a U.S. congressional vote on a landmark trade deal approaching, China warned Thursday of possible repercussions for American companies in China if the pact is rejected. The warning came during a visit by a congressional delegation that President Clinton hopes will solidify support for giving China permanent low-tariff access to U.S. markets.

Report Urges World Trade Organization to Follow Human Rights

From CP-Reuters GENEVA (CP) - A Canadian and a Kenyan law professor are calling on World Trade Organization panels to put international human rights laws above trade rules when resolving disputes among its members.

U.S. Must Remain Engaged in China, Glickman Says

By Doug Palmer SHANGHAI (Reuters) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said on Thursday the United States must remain commercially "engaged" with China to influence progress in areas such as labor and human rights.

Russia Faces UN Human Rights Vote, China Escapes Again - Session Rounds Up

Agence France Presse / Kate Millar GENEVA, April 27 (AFP) - The United Nations human rights commission ends its annual discussions here Friday having condemned Russia over its military action in Chechnya, but China again slipped through the net.

China Crackdown Complicates U.S. Trade Talks

BY LEE MICHAEL KATZ, UPI International Editor WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Beijing's public crackdown on a spiritual group may serve to bolster the arguments of union leaders and others who cite human rights abuse as a factor in the upcoming legislative battle over normalizing trade relations with China.

China Says Another WTO Round with Europeans to Start May 15

Agence France Presse BEIJING, April 26 (AFP) - China said Wednesday it will open its fourth round of talks this year with the European Union on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) from May 15.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Praises China, Warns of US Trade Scepticism

Agence France Presse BEIJING, April 25 (AFP) - US Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman Tuesday praised China's market-opening efforts while warning of increased scepticism to free trade back home.