The third ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization, held in Seattle Nov. 30 through Dec. 3, ended in unexpected failure. The push for new global trade talks collapsed due to opposition by developing countries, which account for more than 100 of the WTO's 134 member nations. The developing countries were supported by citizens' groups, nongovernmental organizations, labor unions, farmers' organizations and consumer groups, which all joined in large-scale protest activities.
The WTO was established Jan. 1, 1995, to promote development of the world economy through free trade. Aside from whether the WTO is moving toward this goal, the organization, as is, is causing discontent in the developing world and anxiety among environmentally minded NGOs.
Citizens' groups denounced the WTO for allegedly ignoring environmental protection, human rights and democracy. Conflicts between the market economy and a civil society were thus exposed for the first time.