ASEAN urges US to back early entry

ASEAN urges US to back early entry

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) urged on Thursday the United States to support the early
entry of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam into the World Trade
Organization (WTO).

A joint statement urged the action at the end of a two-day
ASEAN-US dialogue in Kuala Lumpur.

The statement said ASEAN had urged the WTO to restore the
confidence of developing countries in the benefits that could be
derived from globalization and trade liberalization.

The statement said Washington believed it was possible to
launch a new round of trade talks this year but this required
flexibility from all members.