SEATTLE SYMPOSIUM ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE ISSUES IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE NEXT CENTURY

The purpose of the Symposium was to encourage an informal dialogue between WTO Members and representatives of non-government organizations on issues likely to affect the international trading system of the WTO in the next century in order to (1) enhance awareness of the issues involved (2) provide a forum for exchange of ideas and (3) increase the understanding of the WTO's contribution in these areas.

Participants included representatives of the more than 700 NGO organizations which had been accredited to the Third WTO Ministerial Conference. The Symposium took place outside the formal structure of the WTO and of the Third Ministerial Conference.