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.