APEC's note of caution

APEC's note of caution

Trade liberalization as envisaged in the recent Bogor
Declaration, with its staggered deadlines to make an allowance
for the different stages of economic development of its members,
is colored by many shades of opportunism. Far too many that Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad felt it necessary to add a clear note
of caution, thus making the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) forum's document sensibly just short of unanimity.
Historically, free trade has been pursued by countries seeking to
establish themselves economically, but always with the knowledge
that it had an edge with regard to the domestic market.

-- New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur