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