Sweeping trade deal results from bargaining, India reports
HONG KONG (AP) -- Negotiators at the World Trade Organization have agreed on a sweeping trade deal dismantling barriers to trade in agriculture, manufacturing and services, India's trade minister said today.
News of the deal came after protesters opposed to lowering trade barriers swung bamboo sticks at police and tried to storm the convention center where WTO delegates were negotiating. At least 70 people were injured in the disturbances Saturday.
The protesters included South Korean farmers, Southeast Asian groups and activists from the United States and Europe. They are concerned that WTO efforts to open up global markets will enrich wealthy nations at the expense of poor and developing countries.
By early today, police ordered demonstrators staging a sit-in on a major road near the site to disperse and began dragging them away and loading them in buses.
Delegates met overnight into early today and managed to overcome differences on a draft text. A final agreement on an exact date was expected later in the day, Indian Trade Minister Kamal Nath said.