Those who urge that a global World Trade Organization agreement is preferable to a series of bilateral and multilateral pacts ignore the WTO's very limited progress towards creating global free trade.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Free trade: An antidote to Chavez

The Bush administration's filing of complaints this week against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) was clearly designed to appease cries from lawmakers who have not only criticized the president's economic relations with Beijing but have also condemned his failure to enforce trade rules generally.

FORBES: From Hard Line To Fast Track

"By moving ahead with this World Trade Organization challenge, we stand behind the thousands of Canadians in coastal and northern communities who depend on the seal harvest to provide a livelihood for their families, " Ms Shea said.

BBC: A seal laying in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Canada