With the stated backing of US and European Union, Bangladesh will try to obtain preferential treatment for the LDCs at the conference beginning on November 30. As spokesperson of LDCs, it is also likely to oppose further trade liberalisation in the immediate future.

The Seattle round is expected to be attended by representatives of 135 countries. Bangladesh's commerce and industry minister Tofail Ahmed, who is leaving for Seattle on Thursday, said that Dhaka had made all preparations to work out a common stand following apprehension that the poor nations were destined to benefit less from the negotiations of the "Rich Club".

"Bangladesh, along with other LDCs, will seek implementation of the previous commitments made by the WTO members at the Uruguay Round agreementand subsequent WTO ministerial meetings," Ahmed said. "Their commitments and promises overlooked us. This time we want implementation of the earlier commitments before being tied down by new ones," he said.

Ahmed will chair a meeting of the poor countries on November 29 in the run-up to the Seattle round to work out a collective stand for the WTO round. He said the LDCs would demand zero-tariff market access to developed countries, free flow of manpower and withdrawal of non-tariff barriers.