The World Trade Organization (WTO) is holding its next ministerial in Seattle, Washington the week of November 29th, 1999.

Participate in the People's Rally and March for Fair Trade on November 30th!

Use this site to learn more about issues surrounding the World Trade Organization and its effects on our society, and do get involved. The WTO must be significantly changed if we are to enjoy a society based on human rights, labor rights, and environmental protection around the world.

As a treaty-based organization, the WTO represents immense power to influence a member country's own laws, even if those laws were enacted to protect the environment, human rights, or labor rights.

In advancing the cause of free and unfettered trade, the WTO authorizes one country to challenge another country's laws before dispute resolution panels of trade experts operating in secret. If a law is found to be an unfair trade barrier, the WTO can authorize imposition of trade sanctions to force a change in the law.

This is the first ministerial to be held in the United States. Thousands of interested and concerned citizens from around the world will be in Seattle to learn about World Trade Organization issues, and to participate in events being held that week, from speeches and workshops to rallies and demonstrations.

There are several sites dealing with the WTO and its Ministerial.

For the most complete information about the Ministerial in Seattle, including online audio and video of events, visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy's WTO Watch site.

If you are ready to get into the action right away, see what Citizen's Trade Campaign is doing for the WTO!