U.S. to focus on expanded trade at APEC

U.S. to focus on expanded trade at APEC

Reuters, Washington

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick will carry Washington's vision of expanded trade in the Asia-Pacific region to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting opening on Wednesday in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, his office said on Monday.

"I look forward to meeting with my fellow ministers and discussing how to expand the benefits of trade throughout our countries," Zoellick said in a statement.

Zoellick will outline U.S. policies to expand trade, freedom and prosperity by pursuing trade liberalization through the Asia- Pacific region, the statement said.

The U.S. trade official noted the gathering at the Mexican beach resort would be the first meeting of APEC trade ministers since China and Taiwan joined the World Trade Organization last December.

He added that U.S. Senate passage of a bill last week that would give the White House broad powers to negotiate new trade pacts "provides momentum for American economic leadership."

U.S. trading partners have recently criticized the Bush administration over decisions seen at odds with free-trade principles, such as imposing hefty tariffs on steel imports and signing new farm legislation doling out billions in subsidies to American farmers.

Zoellick this week will likely hear more on those issues as well as other simmering trade disputes.

On the eve of the 21-member APEC meeting, Zoellick is scheduled to hold talks in Puerto Vallarta with Mexican Economy Secretary Luis Ernest Derbez and Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

Derbez said last week that differences over trade in sugar and high fructose corn syrup and the opening of U.S. roads to Mexican transport trucks would be at the forefront of those discussions.