The recent financial crises in Asia, Russia and Latin America have focussed attention on the effectiveness of the world's 'financial architecture'. The freeing of capital movements and the globalisation of markets have boosted economic growth; but also increased instability and systemic risk....

Multilateral trade negotiations limited to agriculture started again in March 2000. Set out in Article 20 of the Agreement on Agriculture, they are among the WTOs built-in agenda commitments which Member countries entered into when signing the Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round...