Evans still confident on free trade deadline<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Australia remained optimistic that leaders of
\nthe Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum would adopt a
\ndeclaration for the implementation of trade liberalization by a
\nset deadline.<\/p>\n
\"I think there's a very good chance and I think the last few
\ndays have enhanced that prospect,\" Australian Trade Minister Bob
\nMcMullen said yesterday. \"It will depend on what comes out of the
\ndynamic of the leader's meeting. But the prospects are good,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
APEC Ministers ended their two-day meeting on Saturday without
\nany mention of a free trade timetable anywhere in their final
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
However Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans denied
\nsuggestions that the ministers' omission of any mention of the
\ndeadline signified a failure. \"It was never the intention to move
\nforward on that front,\" he said.<\/p>\n
APEC economic leaders will meet at Bogor Presidential Palace
\ntomorrow where the free trade deadline is expected to be the
\ncentral issue.<\/p>\n
\"We've simply been supportive of the general thrust that
\nPresident Soeharto wants an overall declaration of vision about
\nfree trade in the region by an agreed date,\" McMullen said.<\/p>\n
Reportedly President Soeharto has proposed that the leaders
\nadopt a deadline where comprehensive trade liberalization would
\noccur by the year 2020.<\/p>\n
Thus far Malaysia has been the vocal opponent to any sort of
\ntime frame for the process to occur and claims that there are
\n\"several\" members who share this sentiment.<\/p>\n
During the ministerial meetings, Malaysian Minister for
\nInternational Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz stated that
\nMalaysia would not support the stipulation of a deadline for
\ntrade liberalization.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless both Evans and McMullen remained confident that
\nMalaysia in the end would warm up to the idea.<\/p>\n
\"If you look carefully to what's been said...no conclusive
\nopposition has been stated on any one of the key issues,\" said
\nEvans.<\/p>\n
McMullen further remarked that \"at the end of the day it will
\nprobably be a decision that is more consistent with the broad
\nmacro economic policy of Malaysia.\"(mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/evans-still-confident-on-free-trade-deadline-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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