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World Bank is Agent of "Social Justice," Says Wolfensohn

WASHINGTON, April 12 (AFP) - World Bank president James Wolfensohn, responding to an avalanche of criticism of his organization, on Wednesday defended the lending institution as a catalyst for social justice and poverty reduction.

Workers Rally to Protest China Trade Deal

By ASHLEY BAKER WASHINGTON, April 12 (UPI) -- Thousands of blue-collar workers massed on Capitol Hill Wednesday to protest a possible trade deal with China that they fear will eliminate their jobs as corporations move to exploit cheap overseas wages and weak environmental standards.

Calls for Abolition of IMF

By JOHN RICE, Associated Press Writer HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro used his opening remarks at a summit of the world's poor nations today to blame the global capitalist system for creating a holocaust of death in poor countries.

Organic Farming, Seeking the Mainstream

The New York Times / April 9, 2000 / By BARNABY J. FEDER KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- THE Rodale Institute's 330-acre research farm here got something it prefers to a bumper crop when a record drought struck eastern Pennsylvania last year.

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.

NZ Govt Puts Five-Year Freeze on Tariffs

The Press / by Elinore Wellwood in Wellington Tariffs have been frozen until 2005 as New Zealand retreats from its previously enthusiastic participation in international agreements aiming to free up trade. The Government announced yesterday proposed tariff reductions due to go ahead on July 1 would be scrapped, in line with Labour policy.

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.

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.