APEC trade ministers to meet in Auckland

APEC trade ministers to meet in Auckland

WELLINGTON (Reuters): Most APEC economies will send their most
senior trade ministers to an APEC trade conference in Auckland
next week, New Zealand officials said on Monday.

The world's two biggest economies, the United States and
Japan, will be represented by U.S. Trade Representative
Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky and Japanese Trade and Industry
Minister Kaoru Yosano.

But Russian Trade Minister Mikhail Fradkov had advised he was
unable to attend, the officials said.

Conflicting commitments similarly meant that Canada, Mexico
and Papua New Guinea also would be represented by other than
their trade ministers.

China was sending its vice minister of Foreign Trade and
Economic Co-operation, He Long Yongtu, according to an APEC
attendance list.

Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Vietnam are among nations sending their senior trade ministers to
the gathering, one of a series leading up to the summit of the 21
APEC economies in Auckland in September.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, and candidate to head the
World Trade Organization, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi will head the
Thai delegation.

He may well come face to face with New Zealand's candidate for
the WTO director-generalship, Mike Moore.

Taiwan is sending Economic Affairs Minister Wang Chih-kang.
New Zealand Trade Minister Lockwood Smith pointed out that most
economies were sending high-ranking ministers to the conference
on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 29 and 30.

"It reflects the importance each economy places on the trade
and investment issues to be discussed," he said in a statement.
APEC's members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia,
Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.