AFX News | June 2, 2003
Prime Minister Tony Blair said he would consider supporting the establishment of an advocacy fund for third world countries to help them get a fair deal at the next WTO meeting in September. The call for a fund came from opposition leader Iain Duncan Smith, who said developed countries feel they are "outgunned" by richer countries in negotiations. "As a result they have not been able to benefit from the growth in free trade," he said during prime Minister's Questions. "At the last WTO round the EU had over 500 experts on their side, whereas many of the poorest countries had literally nobody to represent them." Blair was guarded in his support, saying he was "perfectly happy to look at the suggestion". However, he added that many of the countries who are going to the WTO would regard it as "their position to make sure that they have the right advocacy for themselves".AFX News:
