World Trade Organization

"Anti-Davos" Wants Free Trade Gains for Poor

By Chris Johnson BANGKOK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - A global summit in Bangkok this week will try to help the poor take advantage of the spread of free trade that some developing countries fear only benefits the rich, officials said on Friday.

UNCTAD to Help Rekindle Free Trade Talks

By Rajan Moses BANGKOK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The head of a key U.N. agency said its weeklong summit starting this week in Bangkok would be a forum to get stalled global free trade talks moving.

Nations Ponder Globalization

By PATRICK McDOWELL / Associated Press Writer BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Spurred by a sense of crisis since the turmoil of the World Trade Organization summit in Seattle, some 180 nations are meeting in Bangkok this week to shape the global economy. But as leaders and ministers talk and ponder, globalization is happening a mouse-click, a share trade and a takeover at a time.

WTO""s Next Boss Optimistic of New Round

By Nopporn Wong-Anan BANGKOK, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The World Trade Organisation's next boss, Supachai Panitchpakdi, on Friday voiced optimism for a new round of global trade liberalisation despite the spectacular collapse of summit talks in Seattle late last year.

Annan Urges Debate on Free Trade

By DAVID THURBER / Associated Press Writer BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday that an upcoming major U.N. conference should launch a new debate on how world trade can be made free and fair.

NZ Official Says WTO Round Pushed out to 2001

WELLINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The next round of World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks could be delayed until 2001 due to the U.S. elections, a senior New Zealand official said on Thursday.

Poor Nations Re-Exam Trade Deal

AP Online / By DAVID THURBER BANGKOK, Thailand -- For decades, poor countries have felt excluded from the closed-door meetings that set the direction for the world's trade agreements. Nevertheless, most accepted the pacts, believing that free trade would help them develop and eventually join the ranks of the rich.

U.S. Considering New Ways to Force European Union to Lift Ban on Beef Imports

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky said Feb. 8 that an interagency task force has been established to look into new ways that the United States might use to force the European Union to lift its long-standing ban on imports of beef produced with growth-promoting hormones.

Sweeney Calls for WTO Reforms; Democrats Address UAW Conference

AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney Feb. 8 warned a congressional trade panel that the protests at the World Trade Organization's Seattle meetings will be just the tip of the iceberg if global trade practices are not adjusted to address the needs and concerns of working families.

Lawmakers Are Warned to Back China Trade or Lose Contributions

The Wall Street Journal / By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS WASHINGTON -- Top business executives are issuing a blunt warning to federal lawmakers: Vote against the trade deal with China, and we will hold it against you when writing campaign checks.