31.   The two sides will turn Thursday to economic issues, including thorny subjects such as labour standards in developing nations.

32.   They exchanged views on the contentious proposal seeking to link trade and labour standards, which the EU supports and ASEAN opposes.

33.   They say uniform labour standards would prevent the exploitation of such workers as children and prisoners.

34.   The Western countries secured a watered-down call for respect of core labour standards -- including trade union freedoms and the outlawing of child and slave labour.

35.   Western attempts to link trade with non-tariff issues such as labour standards are strongly opposed by developing nations which fear they are a ploy to erect trade barriers.

36.   WTO chief Renato Ruggiero urged developed and developing nations to work for a consensus on labour standards but acknowledged the task would prove difficult.

37.   WTO chief Renato Ruggiero urged developed and developing nations to work toward a consensus on labour standards but acknowledged the task would prove difficult.

38.   WTO chief Renato Ruggiero has urged developed and developing nations to work for a consensus on labour standards but acknowledged the task would prove difficult.

39.   It overshadowed several days of haggling between industrial and developing countries over whether sensitive issues such as core labour standards and foreign investment should enter the WTO agenda.

40.   It stated that the International Labour Organisation was the competent body to deal with labour standards, reflecting Indian concerns.