The World Trade Organization (WTO) Third Ministerial Conference commenced in Seattle, WA, on Tuesday, November 31 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Inside the center, conference delegates, trade officials, and lobbyists, representing 135 countries, started a three-year series of negotiations about global trade-liberalization. Outside the center, close to 40,000 anti-trade protestors lined the city's streets. In an attempt to clear the streets of demonstrators who were blocking access to meeting venues, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell declared a state of emergency as police in riot gear fired rubber bullets, red pepper spray, and tear gas into the sea of protestors. Demonstrators believe global trade regulations proposed by the WTO will ultimately exploit workers in developing countries and will not take into account environmental issues. President Clinton was scheduled to address ministers on Wednesday, but instead he chose to survey the damage in the downtown area caused by a small faction of rioting protestors.