Local Control Over Land Use Threatened by WTO

[acmejack]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A controversial World Trade Organization (WTO) services agreement that will be discussed at this week’s WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong poses a serious threat to state and local authority over land use policy, according to a briefing paper released today by Public Citizen.

Public Citizen released the paper, Big Box Backlash:The Stealth Campaign at the World Trade Organization to Pre-empt Local Control Over Land Use, as trade negotiators flew to Hong Kong in a last-ditch effort to revive stalled WTO talks. The briefing paper exposes how big box retailers such as Wal-Mart are pushing for new provisions in the WTO’s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) that could further undermine local zoning and other land use and development policies.

http://www.citizen.org/pressroom/release.cfm?ID=2099

[mcscajun]

1. Trantor!

Trantor. Capitol world of the Galactic Empire. Home of the Emperor. Once known as the "Glory of the Galaxy". Administrative centre of the Empire. Land area of 75,000,000 square miles and was entirely covered by metal with the exception of the Emperor's Palace.

We'll get there, we'll get there...patience. :sarcasm: