Chase Celebrates National Trade Education Day - Setting the Stage for Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization -.

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 10, 1999--

The Chase Manhattan Corporation (NYSE: CMB) joins its clients and other U.S. companies today in applauding the benefits of international trade during the first National Trade Education Day.

Recognizing the importance of trade to our economy and to American citizens is especially appropriate now, as the U.S. prepares to welcome public and private individuals from all over the world to the Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This meeting of the WTO will be held for the first time in the United States, in Seattle at the end of November.

National Trade Education Day aims to promote awareness on the advantages and challenges of international trade. Encouraging a dialog on trade will foster a greater public understanding of how U.S. participation in a wider global economy will enhance trade and investment connections around the world by both developed and emerging countries.

Just as the U.S. domestic economy has benefited from its national experience with competition and a sound market-oriented regulatory environment, international economic growth and financial stability will be enhanced by the rules-based consensus on trade supported by the WTO and its 134 member countries.

Chase's clients across a full range of manufacturing and services industries benefit daily from international market access. The year 2000 WTO negotiations will advance these gains by focusing on new areas such as energy and transport services. The WTO negotiations will also promote greater transparency in domestic regulatory procedures and support the set agenda for agriculture, telecommunications and for many other services. Additionally, the technological advantages of small and large U.S. firms applying electronic commerce and Internet skills in the global market will also be magnified by the WTO rules providing for market access across all means of delivery.

The prospect for Chase and other U.S. financial services institutions is especially promising because of the recent action by the Congress and the Administration in agreeing on landmark financial modernization legislation.

"Chase is well positioned to compete internationally and to build its leadership position in the `new economy,'" said William B. Harrison, Jr., President and CEO of The Chase Manhattan Corporation. "We support the goals of National Trade Education Day and anticipate that the WTO negotiations will contribute to unprecedented market access opportunities abroad."

The Chase Manhattan Corporation, with more than $370 billion in assets, is one of the world's premier financial service institutions, with operations in 48 countries around the globe. Chase has top-tier ranking in all areas of investment banking, private banking, trading and global market activities as well as information and transaction processing. Chase is a leading provider of financial solutions to large corporations, government entities, middle market, small businesses and individuals, and has relationships with more than 32 million consumers across the United States. Chase can be reached on the Web at www.chase.com.