APEC drafts Manila summit action plan

APEC drafts Manila summit action plan

MANILA (AFP): More than 500 senior officials from the 18-
member countries of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
began yesterday a crucial two-day forum to draw up action plans
to be presented at the APEC summit here in November.

The officials face the daunting task of consolidating at least
1,512 specific plans of action for trade and investment
liberalization to be submitted by APEC members, said Foreign
Affairs undersecretary Federico Macaranas, who opened the
meeting.

This conference, the first of four senior officials' meetings
to be held here prior to the November summit, will set the
guidelines for drafting collective and individual action plans.

These plans will form the Manila Action Plan for APEC, which
is expected to further last year's Osaka Declaration that laid
the groundwork for the opening of free trade among developed
member economies by 2010 and for developing members by 2020.

Despite the tight schedule, officials hope to discuss the
establishment of an APEC business advisory council, and a
"dispute mediation service", Macaranas added.

APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand, and the United States.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials said in Washington Tuesday that the
United States will conduct a study of trade barriers among
Pacific Rim countries with an eye toward liberalizing trade and
investment.

The International Trade Commission said it will carry out a
study of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum countries
requested by U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor.

Washington is evaluating U.S. participation in the APEC
process in 1996.

The trade commission will also examine tariff liberalization
in areas with a high percentage of trade among APEC nations.

The main report will be delivered to Kantor on May 31, with
some parts due earlier. The ITC said it will seek information
from industry officials, trade associations and other parties.