U.S.-S'pore trade talks

U.S.-S'pore trade talks

WASHINGTON (AFP): Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister
George Yeo on Monday met new U.S. Trade Representative Robert
Zoellick ahead of a new push to conclude what would be the first
free trade agreement between Washington and an Asian government.

Yeo and Zoellick held an hour of talks in Washington in the
first high-level encounter between the two sides since President
George W. Bush's Republican administration took power in January,
a U.S. Trade Representative spokeswoman said.

They discussed the proposed free trade pact with Singapore
first mooted late last year between Singapore and the
administration of former president Bill Clinton, she said.

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry said last week that
the two sides will resume full scale talks on the pact between
May 21-26 in Singapore.

Zoellick and Yeo also discussed on Monday global trade issues
and business of the Asia Pacific Cooperation Forum (APEC) of
which both nations are leading members.