|
Trade conference opens amid disagreements
December 9, 1996
Web posted at: 12:20 p.m. EST (1720 GMT)SINGAPORE (CNN) -- The World Trade Organization's ministerial conference opened in Singapore Monday, with members of developing nations making clear they would not bow to U.S. insistence that they raise labor standards.
The United States, France, and Canada want workers' rights and human rights disputes to be debated within the WTO, but many other countries -- including Britain, Australia and Germany -- argued that such issues should not be tied to trade rules.
Divisions also exist among the 128 WTO members over an Information Technology Agreement, in which the United States is seeking to cut tariffs on computer and telecommunications products.
Correspondent David Clinch and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Human rights issues to dominate WTO conference - December 8, 1996
- APEC leaders pledge reduced tariffs on info technology - November 25, 1996
Related sites:
- World Trade Organization
- World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference 1996 (Government of Singapore's Web site on the conference)
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
Tell us what you think!
You said it...
© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.