APEC sets its course on economy<\/p>\n
The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore<\/p>\n
As APEC summits go, the Bangkok session just concluded was
\npre-ordained to be one of the most charged in the decade-long
\nhistory of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. And so it
\nhas proved.<\/p>\n
Firstly, bitterness over the World Trade Organization's
\ninconclusive Doha Round in Cancun was transferred to Bangkok. All
\nthe principals to the dispute bar the Europeans were represented.
\nThis was unfinished business.<\/p>\n
As the APEC bloc accounts for half of world trade, its
\ndecisions matter. Secondly, United States President George W.
\nBush's concurrent Asian tour, much of it to countries which are
\nseedbeds as well as victims of terrorism, meant that security and
\ncounter-terrorism would share the limelight with economic
\nmatters.<\/p>\n
After New York and Bali security has a charter right to be
\nraised in non-indigenous fora, starting with the principal Group
\nof Seven bloc. Countries led by Malaysia which sought in Bangkok
\nto keep APEC purely about trade should be respected for their
\ndevotion, but it was not realistic to de-link security from the
\nconditions which permit commerce to thrive.<\/p>\n
North Korea's missile firing during the summit discussions was
\nrightly dismissed as a stunt, but it reminded delegates that this
\ncontinent has plenty of unresolved tensions that can work against
\ntrade flows. North Korea happens to be only the most acute
\nchallenge.<\/p>\n
On trade, the APEC members to their credit took the positive,
\nforward look in the final declaration. Instead of chastising the
\nCancun WTO session as an opportunity lost, the stress was on
\nlending their 'strong support for continuing the valuable work
\ndone'.<\/p>\n
But more than polite language will move the trade facilitation
\nprocess along. Political will, flexibility, genuine give-and-take
\n-- these are the demands that must be made of every contracting
\nparty. The APEC session featured all the principals who fought
\nthe Cancun fight -- the United States and Japan for the rich
\nworld which defended their corner in agriculture and open
\nmarkets; China, among the leaders of the emerging bloc's revolt
\nagainst lopsided trade rules; the Cairns hardy perennials
\nAustralia and New Zealand which feel hard done by in the grain
\nand meat trade; and the rest of APEC's members from South America
\nand Asia which try to make a go of development models.<\/p>\n
APEC will count for little if each year's session churns out
\nhomilies, and the delegates return home and plot how to defend
\nonly their interests. The first summit in Seattle was credited
\nwith helping revive a previous stalled trade round.<\/p>\n
A decade later, the Bangkok summit has a heavier duty to
\nrescue the Doha Round as trade animosity has hardened since.
\nMember states should instruct their teams to be open-minded when
\nthe WTO reconvenes in Geneva in December.<\/p>\n
As for security, America's at times robust approach has
\nantagonized even some of its friends. Muslim nations in the APEC
\nfamily feel keenly the unintended consequences of the war on
\nterror and the uneven U.S. approach vis-a-vis the Israelis and
\nthe Palestinians. These are real dilemmas. They could get
\nunmanageable.<\/p>\n
By visiting Southeast Asia, Bush is making a powerful
\nstatement of his determination to get on top of the terror
\nchallenge. He has received the requisite support in the Bangkok
\ncommunique which urges countries to root out "transnational
\nterrorist groups" and eliminate the danger posed by weapons
\nproliferation. But he should take the time to listen to especial
\nconcerns when he visits Indonesia after an overnight stop in
\nSingapore.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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