Ei-iE

Meetings were held between the U.S. and EU to discuss agriculture subsidization questions.

11 Dec 2005: In the morning, several meetings were held to discuss strategies on the question of agricultural subsidies by the United States and the European Union, which presently constitutes a main stumbling block for the advancement of talks at the WTO conference. In the afternoon, representatives from the international trade union movement join the more than 4000 Hong Kong trade union colleagues in a demonstration. 12 Dec 2005: Monday. Preparatory meetings to the ministerial meeting were held in a joint forum, including the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the World Confederation of Labour (WCL), Solidar and the Global Progressive Forum. Within this framework, trade union participants and their political allies received Peter Mandelson, European Commissioner, and Pascal Lamy, WTO Director General. From the look of things, it is clear that discussions in the other sectors will not proceed if no agreement is made in the agricultural sector. The WTO conference will continue until 18 Dec. The EI delegation is headed by EI President Thulas Nxesi, Eva-Lis Preisz, Executive Board member, and Elie Jouen, EI Deputy General Secretary. Representatives of EI affiliates in Australia, the United States, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand and Norway were also present. For more information, please visit the site: http://www.workersvoiceatwto.org/