1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20417December 21, 1999Environment and the World Trade Organization(WTO) at Seattle: Issues and Concerns(name redacted)Senior Analyst in International Environmental PolicyResources, S
2、cience, and Industry DivisionSummaryAs the United States prepared for the ministerial meeting of the World TradeOrganization (WTO) in Seattle, Washington, held November 30 - December 3, 1999,environmental issues were once again a focus of attention. This meeting of the decisionmaking body of the WTO
3、 was expected to make decisions that would lead to anotherround of negotiations on a wide variety of trade rules and related issues. Although theUnited States continues to assert the necessity of pursuing the twin goals of free tradeand environmental protection and to argue that these need not be in
4、 conflict, controversyremains over how the multilateral trading system should address the specifics ofenvironmental issues. Widespread demonstrations and events in Seattle by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across a wide spectrum of interests involved manyenvironmental NGOs. The environmental
