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

The president meets Tuesday evening with Hong Kong Democratic leader Martin Lee -- a proponent of China's entrance into the World Trade Organization (WTO) -- and separately with a group of Democratic lawmakers who are either undecided or considered soft proponents or opponents of the legislation.

CNN: White House steps up lobbying effort for China trade bill

The victor will succeed Mayor Paul Schell, who was defeated in the primary amid voter frustration over the 1999 World Trade Organization riots and the city's loss of economic mainstay Boeing.

CNN: Several large cities getting new mayors

Thus, the key discriminator in who wins becomes price which is why the pending rulings by the World Trade Organization could prove so troublesome.

FORBES: Air Force Tanker Program Flies Into New Political Storm

The move drew complaints from China, who struck back with threats of possible tariffs of their own and a formal appeal to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

FORBES: EU Finally Moves on Chinese Solar Threats