Two experts on international trade law exchanged barbs over the policies of the World Trade Organization at an Institute of Politics forum that attracted about 350 people last night.

The event, entitled "Free Trade: Prosperity for all or Race to the Bottom?" brought together frequent opponents on the topic--Ira S. Shapiro, a chief U.S. trade negotiator, and Lori M. Wallach, chief counsel for the nonprofit organization Global Trade Watch--to talk more in-depth about an issue that has made international headlines in recent months.

In his opening remarks, Shapiro--who helped the U.S. government negotiate the initial WTO agreements--told audience members that free trade benefits America's economy.

"Our openness is our competitive advantage," he said.

But Wallach--a key organizer of the protests that interrupted WTO negotiations in Seattle late last year--said the WTO does not promote free trade.

Holding aloft a 900-page copy of the 18 international agreements the WTO oversees and enforces, she asked why such a long list of restrictions was necessary for the preservation of supposedly free trade.

"This is not free trade--it is corporate managed trade," she said.

In the ensuing debate which lasted for about 90 minutes, the two panelists answered an array of questions which came at them in groups of three or four-- a tactic designed by IOP organizers to discourage individual audience members from monopolizing the speakers' time.