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.