Apec leaders agree to harmonise pacts

By FRAN O'SULLIVAN

After days of intense negotiations, Apec nations will today agree to set minimum standards for the free-trade pacts that criss-cross the Asia-Pacific region.

They will also set up an experts group to study a proposal for a free-trade area covering Asia and the Pacific.

There are 40 free-trade agreements between the 21 Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation) members, with 34 more agreements in the pipeline.

Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton confirmed to the Herald that the two proposals had been put to today's Apec leaders meeting for approval.

He said they formed a backup plan in case the World Trade Organisation's Doha round did not succeed.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials had held negotiations with officials from Chile, Japan, the United States and Canada to try to bridge an emerging rift over the Asia Pacific free-trade proposal.

Some countries wanted to shelve it and instead concentrate on completing the Doha round in time for the WTO ministerial meeting in December.

One major issue is the way many countries have left sensitive issues such as agriculture out of their bilateral agreements.

The US, in particular, wants any major issues resolved at the WTO and is wary of creating more regional trade blocs.