WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION & GLOBAL POVERTY REDUCTION

Early day motion 961, tabled 1 November 1999 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 50 members.

That this House regards the third World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference to be held in Seattle from 30th November to 3rd December as an historic opportunity to transform international trade and investment rules so that they promote poverty reduction and sustainable development; and calls upon the Government to promote a thorough assessment of the impact of World Trade Organisation agencies on developing countries, with particular emphasis on improving market access for developing countries' exports, ending export subsidies and the dumping of cheap and surplus goods in poor countries, offering financial and technical assistance to the least-developed countries in trade negotiations and ensuring appropriate support for ethical consumer choice.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Labour/Co-operative 5, Liberal Democrat 4, Scottish National Party 2, UUP 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.