Giant puppets of corporate executives also joined in. Activists said they intend to block delegates Tuesday from entering the conference site by lying down in streets or locking themselves to fence posts or to each other. The AFL-CIO plans a massive rally on Tuesday near the conference to support workers' rights and protest international trade agreements that they say threaten U.S. jobs. Activists drawn to the conference hope to influence ministers in attendance from the WTO's 135 nations. The conference is meant to launch a new round of global trade negotiations aimed at reducing tariffs and other trade barriers in industries ranging from agriculture and construction to entertainment and telecommunications.
Agricultural subsidies are likely to be a big sticking point among conference negotiators.
European nations and Japan have called for an agreement allowing farm subsidies because they say farming has important cultural aspects that should be protected. The United States has said it wants farm products to enjoy the same low tariffs as manufactured goods. Clinton must deal with Congress on trade talks U.S. President Bill Clinton, expected to attend the conference, has a political tightrope to walk. Any agreement by his administration must also pass muster in a contentious Congress. The differences that exist now will get ironed out in the late- hour negotiations.