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 Patrick O'Connell reports for BBC News"The US and EU lock horns"  real 28k  Former Bristish Environment Secretary John Gummer"You need to make sure there is global responsibility"  real 28k |
Clinton hopes to revive talks
Helping the poor and disadvantaged? |
President Clinton faces a delicate balancing act in his address to world trade ministers in Seattle on Wednesday
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Mr Clinton has expressed sympathy for the thrust of the protests, although deploring the violence.
"I think it was unrealistic to assume that for the next 50 years, trade could be like it's been for the last 50 -- primarily the province of business executives and political leaders," he said before leaving Washington.
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WTO's Four Aims |
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Expand trade concessions to all members |
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Establish freer global trade |
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Make trade fairer by establishing rules |
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Make trade more competitive by removing subsidies |
Mr Clinton will urge the WTO to take on board the concerns about the environment and labour standards.
He has already signed an executive order ensuring that trade agreements are subject in the United States to an environmental impact statement - and he will take time on Thursday to sign an International Labour Organisation treaty on child labour.
But although Mr Clinton has been particularly sensitive to the concerns of environmentalists and labour activist - who are usually strong supporters of the Democrats in next year's Presidential election - he also has other constituencies.
Uppermost in his mind will be American farmers, who make up the most successful export industry in the USA.
They have been hard-hit economically, and are strong supporters of opening up world markets to their products.
Mr Clinton will meet with local farmers, and the abolition of agricultural subsidies will figure high on the US trade agenda - putting him at loggerheads with the world's other large trade bloc, the European Union.
Concern about developing countries
Mr Clinton will also argue that the WTO should become more accountable to the poor, although many of the 135 WTO members from developing countries will not welcome his call for stricter environmental standards, fearing it is aimed at their exports.
The US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, struck a similar note in a speech that had been prepared for the opening ceremony, but was never delivered.
She warned that the WTO could not "be effective without public trust". Politicians should work hard to ensure it was perceived as "a public interest, not a special interest organisation".
The argument was echoed by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who had planned to warn political leaders that they must extend the benefits of free trade to all countries if they were to overcome political opposition.
The speech was never delivered because of the protests.
Trade talks deadlock
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Trade talk targets |
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Expand tariff cuts to agriculture and services |
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Set agenda for other areas of trade liberalisation |
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Discuss labour rights |
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Set standards for 'fair' trading |
They are trying to work out an agenda for the so-called Millennium round of trade talks. Countries are still sharply divided in which areas tariffs should come down next.
The EU has proposed a comprehensive agenda, in a draft working paper backed by Japan, which would cover investment and competition rules and limit the use of so-called "anti-dumping" measures to restrict imports. That is opposed by the United States and some developing countries, which favour a more limited agenda.
The protests disrupted Seattle and the opening ceremony, but the talks are going ahead |
Five working groups have already started trying to narrow down the differences on the most controversial issues, including services and e-commerce.
The gap is biggest on agriculture, where the EU and Japan want its "multifunctional" role recognised, allowing subsidies to protect the rural environment.
That has been criticised by the Cairns group of farm exporting nations, who want to eliminate all forms of export subsidies for agriculture.
Dan Glickman, the US agriculture secretary, has said that the US would back a draft proposal due to be released by Singapore on Wednesday.
Once the agenda has been agreed, the trade talks could last up to three years before reaching agreement.
Focus of criticism
Unlike earlier trade rounds, the negotiations in Seattle have attracted a huge amount of attention - and criticism.
Non-governmental pressure groups, ranging from trade unions to environmental campaigners, are determined to have their voice heard and curb what they see as the excesses of free trade.
But the critics are also divided in their objectives and methods.
Some want reform of the WTO, making it more accountable and open to pressure from non-governmental organisations.
Others believe it is a symbol of the power of world capitalism, and should be shut down entirely.
And labour activists and environmentalists are at odds with supporters of developing countries, who want more access, not less, for manufactured exports from poor countries.
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Clinton at the WTOWatch President Clinton's speech in Seattle live at 2145 GMT
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See also: |
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01 Dec 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Seattle trade talks timeline |
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01 Dec 99 | Americas |
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Trade protesters spark emergency |
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30 Nov 99 | Americas |
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In pictures: The WTO protests |
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23 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Free trade flashpoints |
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30 Nov 99 | Business |
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Technocrats versus Turtles |
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30 Nov 99 | Business |
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Trade talks backlash warning |
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30 Nov 99 | UK Politics |
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Free trade will boost Third World - UK |
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24 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Trade blocs and bullies |
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23 Nov 99 | Battle for Free Trade |
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Free trade benefits all |
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Internet links: |
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World Trade Organisation |
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Cairns Group |
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European Union trade directorate |
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US Trade Representative |
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