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Clinton Wants to Try Again this Year for New Trade Round

Agence France Presse HONOLULU, Hawaii, March 20 (AFP) - President Bill Clinton wants to make another bid to launch multilateral trade talks this year but there are still no signs that governments can agree on a basic agenda, his top trade negotiator said here Monday.

China Rejects Links Between WTO Entry and Human Rights

Agence France Presse GENEVA, March 21 (AFP) - Any attempt to link the debate on China's human rights record with its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would not be in members' interests, a Chinese trade official said here Tuesday.

NZ Welcomes Appointment of WTO Panel on US Lamb Dispute

The Wall Street Journal WELLINGTON -- New Zealand Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton Wednesday welcomed the formation of a World Trade Organization panel to hear New Zealand's dispute with the U.S. about lamb tariffs. "(Now) we can get down to the business of challenging the legality of the action taken against our lamb exports," Sutton said in a statement.

WTO Group Takes Up Chinese Admission to Trade Organization

GENEVA, March 20 (AFP) - The panel preparing China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) met Monday to consider queries member states have about proposed rules on trade with China in agriculatural produce.

WTO Chief Warns of Europe""s Inflexible Stance on Farm Policy

Agence France Presse LISBON, March 20 (AFP) - The director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Monday accused the European Union of having a "very closed" attitude on farm policy.

US-China Trade Pact Backers Fear Taiwan Flare-Up

By Adam Entous WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. congressional support for a landmark trade agreement with China was hanging in the balance on Monday, as lawmakers scrutinized Beijing's response to the presidential election in Taiwan. So far Beijing's reaction to Saturday's election of Chen Shui-bian, whose party leans toward independence from China, has been restrained.

EU Trade Commissioner Says Europe not Closed to Brazilian Exports

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 19 (AFP) - EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy said Sunday that Europe is not as closed to Brazilian exports "as sometimes is said," at the start of his six-day South American tour. "If you look at Brazilian exports to the European Union, you can see that two-thirds of the trade volume is tariff-free. It is not as closed as sometimes is said," Lamy said.

Maude Barlow vs. the Big Boys; Ten Years After Free Trade, She""s Still Battling to Curb Corporate Power

Toronto Star OTTAWA -- When Maude Barlow took on the job of unpaid chairperson of the Council of Canadians in 1988, the tiny nationalist group had, according to this story, a staff of only two and a narrow focus: to fight free trade. And many saw Barlow as a loser.

Cuba Seeks Trade Balance

HAVANA (AP) -- Cuba must cut back on unnecessary imports and boost exports, the communist government's economic planners said in comments published Saturday.

EU Trade Commissioner to Speed Up Talks with China

PORTO, Portugal, March 18 (AFP) - EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy said here Saturday he would go to Beijing this month in an attempt to speed up commerce talks between the European Union and China.