-
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION CREATED
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is created, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) formed from a series of post-war treaties on trade. The World Trade Organization is more highly structured than the previous GATT and counted seventy-six nations among its members in 1995. -
Period: to
1995-1999
Foreign Policy in the late 90s -
US LOANS MEXICO $20 BILLION
U.S. President Bill Clinton invokes emergency powers to extend a $20 billion loan to Mexico to avert a financial disaster that had begun on December 19, 1994 during a planned exchange rate correction between the Mexican peso and American dollar. -
NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
One hundred and seventy nations decide to extend the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty indefinitely. -
RUSSIA-US RELATIONS IMPROVE
For the first time, the Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir. -
US RELATIONS WITH SOUTH KOREA
The Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. is dedicated in ceremonies presided by President Bill Clinton and South Korean President Kim Yong-sam. -
TERRORIST ATTACKS KILL US MILITARY PERSONNEL
The Khobar Towers bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia kills nineteen U.S. military personnel, destroying the majority of a six building apartment complex that was home to the 440th Fighter Wing. It was carried out by Islamic terrorists seeking removal of the U.S. presence in Saudi Arabia. -
US HOSTS OLYMPICS
The Summer Olympics Games are opened in Atlanta, Geogia by U.S. President Bill Clinton. These games would be marred, however, by the Centennial Park bombing of Olympic tourists on July 27, which killed one person and injured one hundred and eleven. (Foreign Interaction, occurred in US) -
NATO
The NATO alliance expands into eastern Europe, extends an invitation to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join alliance in 1999. -
OSAMA BIN LADEN
Osama bin Laden publishes his fatwa ( a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority.) that announced a jihad against all Jews and Crusaders. This pushed the Islamic Ideals that resulted in future terrorist attacks -
ATTACKS ON US EMBASSIES
Attacks on two United States embassies in Africa, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya kills two hundred and twenty-four and injures four thousand five hundred. The attacks are linked to Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. -
US RESOPONDS TO AL QUAEDA
The United States launches cruise missile strikes against Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan and a suspected chemical plant in the Sudan. -
SADDAM HUSSEIN
The United States Congress passes the Iraq Liberation Act. States the U.S. wants to remove Saddam Hussein from power and replace it with a democracy. -
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION MEETINGS
The first major mobilization of the anti-globalization movement occurs in Seattle, Washington, during the days prior to the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings. The protests and rioting caused the cancellation of the WTO opening ceremonies. (Foreign Policy, World Trade Connections)