1.   The final statement was also non-commital in its social clause.

2.   The final statement was non-committal in the social clause.

3.   The EU is also a major proponent of the social clause, an attempt to link trade with social conditionalities such as human and labour rights and environmental protection.

4.   The most controversial one is the so-called social clause.

5.   This was in response to a resolution by the European Parliament that mandated the inclusion of social clauses in trade agreements to combat child and forced labor.

6.   But linking social clauses to trade agreements was not the way to achieve sustainable social progress, he added.

7.   But Mukherjee expressed concerns over threats that some nations would link social clauses to Indian exports from sectors using child or prison labour.

8.   The social clause would make third world producers even less competitive, they fear.

9.   US Undersecretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs Joan Spero denied Wednesday that Washington was trying to introduce protectionist measures through so-called social clauses.

10.   Leaders of developing countries see social clauses to improve the welfare of poorly paid workers and stop forced and child labour as little more than disguised protectionism.