APEC leaders to gain consensus on free trade<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): APEC leaders will likely reach a consensus on
\nthe adoption of free trade in the region during their upcoming
\nsummit in November despite differences in perceptions on the
\nregion, a visiting U.S. official says.<\/p>\n
Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) Charlene
\nBarshefsky expressed such optimism in a press conference here
\nyesterday, based on the fact that the differences on this issue
\nconcern the modalities of free trade rather than philosophical
\nprinciples among the member countries of the Asia Pacific
\nEconomic Cooperation (APEC) forum.<\/p>\n
\"My assumption is that through further senior officials
\nmeetings, ministerial meetings and leaders meetings, it is going
\nto be worked out,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She further added that despite the apparent objection of
\nparticular countries, \"it ought to be possible to work out a
\nconsensus on modality.\"<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that her projection might be a
\nbit \"overly optimistic.\"<\/p>\n
Barshefsky was in Indonesia to attend Thursday's one-day
\nmeeting of APEC ministers in charge of trade.<\/p>\n
The meeting was attended by representatives from all the 17
\nmembers of the forum as well as Chile, which will assume full
\nmembership at the APEC Ministerial Meeting here in November.<\/p>\n
APEC groups Canada, China, Japan, the United States, Mexico,
\nTaiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore,
\nBrunei, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
\nand Indonesia, which currently chairs the forum.<\/p>\n
Recently the forum's Eminent Persons Group (EPG) called on the
\nleaders to adopt a date for free trade in the area by no later
\nthan 2020.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 15, the forum's leaders are scheduled to gather at the
\nBogor Palace to conduct their second meeting, which will follow
\nthe inaugural APEC leaders meeting on Blake Island, Seattle, last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
When opening Thursday's meeting, President Soeharto stated his
\nhigh hopes that the Bogor meeting will produce fundamental
\nagreements on the type and rate of trade and investment
\nliberalization.<\/p>\n
Barshefsky said that her country was not averse to the
\nestablishment of a date, and that nevertheless such an assignment
\nshould be the sole prerogative of the leaders.<\/p>\n
\"We remain flexible and open-minded as to the outcome of that
\ndiscussion,\" she said.<\/p>\n
She remarked that achieving a consensus is a difficult process
\nsince everyone has to compromise a little bit to get such
\nunanimity.<\/p>\n
Clash<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a visiting representative of Konrad-Adenauer
\nStiftung of Germany, Kai Michael Schellhorn, said in a discussion
\nat The Jakarta Post that \"a big clash\" will break out at the
\nBogor meeting due to differences of opinion among the forum's
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Because the establishment of APEC started with a Westernized
\nidea, its Western member countries will likely try to
\ninstitutionalize the forum but the members grouped in the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not accept
\ninstitutionalization on legal bases, he said.<\/p>\n
However, the leaders are expected to reach agreement at the
\nBogor meeting on plans to achieve certain goals of the forum, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Schellhorn said the differences will cause APEC to need a long
\nperiod of time to \"get its members in one boat.\"<\/p>\n
When asked about the European Union (EU)'s perception of APEC,
\nSchellhorn said that the EU, which is economically self-centered
\nhas no argument against any other regional groupings, like APEC
\nand the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA). (mds\/icn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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