APEC sets its course on economy
APEC sets its course on economy
The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore
As APEC summits go, the Bangkok session just concluded was
pre-ordained to be one of the most charged in the decade-long
history of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. And so it
has proved.
Firstly, bitterness over the World Trade Organization's
inconclusive Doha Round in Cancun was transferred to Bangkok. All
the principals to the dispute bar the Europeans were represented.
This was unfinished business.
As the APEC bloc accounts for half of world trade, its
decisions matter. Secondly, United States President George W.
Bush's concurrent Asian tour, much of it to countries which are
seedbeds as well as victims of terrorism, meant that security and
counter-terrorism would share the limelight with economic
matters.
After New York and Bali security has a charter right to be
raised in non-indigenous fora, starting with the principal Group
of Seven bloc. Countries led by Malaysia which sought in Bangkok
to keep APEC purely about trade should be respected for their
devotion, but it was not realistic to de-link security from the
conditions which permit commerce to thrive.
North Korea's missile firing during the summit discussions was
rightly dismissed as a stunt, but it reminded delegates that this
continent has plenty of unresolved tensions that can work against
trade flows. North Korea happens to be only the most acute
challenge.
On trade, the APEC members to their credit took the positive,
forward look in the final declaration. Instead of chastising the
Cancun WTO session as an opportunity lost, the stress was on
lending their 'strong support for continuing the valuable work
done'.
But more than polite language will move the trade facilitation
process along. Political will, flexibility, genuine give-and-take
-- these are the demands that must be made of every contracting
party. The APEC session featured all the principals who fought
the Cancun fight -- the United States and Japan for the rich
world which defended their corner in agriculture and open
markets; China, among the leaders of the emerging bloc's revolt
against lopsided trade rules; the Cairns hardy perennials
Australia and New Zealand which feel hard done by in the grain
and meat trade; and the rest of APEC's members from South America
and Asia which try to make a go of development models.
APEC will count for little if each year's session churns out
homilies, and the delegates return home and plot how to defend
only their interests. The first summit in Seattle was credited
with helping revive a previous stalled trade round.
A decade later, the Bangkok summit has a heavier duty to
rescue the Doha Round as trade animosity has hardened since.
Member states should instruct their teams to be open-minded when
the WTO reconvenes in Geneva in December.
As for security, America's at times robust approach has
antagonized even some of its friends. Muslim nations in the APEC
family feel keenly the unintended consequences of the war on
terror and the uneven U.S. approach vis-a-vis the Israelis and
the Palestinians. These are real dilemmas. They could get
unmanageable.
By visiting Southeast Asia, Bush is making a powerful
statement of his determination to get on top of the terror
challenge. He has received the requisite support in the Bangkok
communique which urges countries to root out "transnational
terrorist groups" and eliminate the danger posed by weapons
proliferation. But he should take the time to listen to especial
concerns when he visits Indonesia after an overnight stop in
Singapore.