Apec pair await 'realism' for Kerry on trade

By FIONA ORTIZ

PUCON, Chile - Despite his negative campaign stance on trade agreements, if US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry won November's election, reality would soon set in, trade ministers from the Pacific rim believe.

Kerry promised that in office he would review existing trade agreements before moving ahead with more and declined to say whether he would ask Congress to extend presidential trade negotiating authority, which expires next year.

US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick warned a month ago that US trade negotiations could grind to a halt if Kerry won and let the trade authority lapse, reversing the aggressive pursuit of trade by President George W. Bush.

"When you go through a political exercise, you say things that are popular, but when you occupy your position you become more realistic," Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Cesar Purisima told Reuters on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation ministerial meeting.

That view was echoed by his South Korean counterpart and a third trade minister who did not want to be named.

Kerry also declined to say whether he supports a new trade pact with Australia.

He opposes a new trade deal with Central America and supports a change in international tax laws to discourage US companies from shifting jobs abroad.

He has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the largest US labour organisation.