WTO ministers were meeting to set the agenda for a new round of negotiations aimed at reducing trade barriers in sectors ranging from agriculture to electronic commerce.

They have been met with mobs of protesters who believe free trade has had a negative impact on US jobs and the environment.

"I also strongly, strongly believe that we should open the process up to all those people who are now demonstrating on the outside. They ought to be a part of it," Clinton told reporters in the Oval Office.

"And I think we should strengthen the role and the interest of labour and the environment in our trade negotiations," he said. Clinton is scheduled to attend the WTO meeting on Wednesday.

Clinton acknowledged that addressing labour and environmental concerns in trade talks was "not going to be easy" because many developing countries see concerns about environment and labour standards as a way to "keep them down."About 30 percent of US economic growth was due to expanded trade, which has also helped keep US inflation down-"So, we've had this huge growth with low inflation," Clinton said.

But he said he wanted to make sure the economy was not damaged by "trading rules that could put short-term economic considerations over long-term environmental considerations."

"So I'm very sympathetic with a lot of the causes being raised by all the people that are there demonstrating," Clinton said.

The President said he hoped the WTO meeting would launch anew round of trade talks that would lead to a reduction in tariffs and other trade barriers in agriculture and other areas.

"I hope that we will agree to keep e-commerce free of unusual burdens," Clinton added.

"Since this has now become a global society with global communications, as well as a global economy, I think it was unrealistic to assume that for the next 50 years trade could be like it's been for the last 50-primarily the province of business executives and political leaders," Clinton said.