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Zoellick says terrorism no threat to free trade: Report
Hong Kong, Nov 19: The threat of further terrorism or a crisis with Iraq will not disrupt trade liberalisation, US trade representative Robert Zoellick said in a report published today.
Hong Kong, Nov 19: The threat of further terrorism or a crisis with Iraq will not disrupt trade liberalisation, US trade representative Robert Zoellick said in a report published today.
"In the present environment, a number of countries have recognized trade as a counterpoint to terrorism," Zoellick said in an interview with the International Herald Tribune.
"They appreciate that, just as in the cold war, economics and security go together."
While he acknowledged the "dampening economic effect" terrorism has had, he said governments have not thrown up trade barriers in response.
"The encouraging sign over the past year is that this effect, plus the global slowdown, has not led countries in general to protectionism but instead to push for openness."
When asked if another major terrorist attack or a crisis with Iraq over weapons of mass destruction would disrupt trade liberalisation, he said: "I don't believe so."
He pointed to key accomplishments after the September 11 terrorist attacks last year, including bringing china and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the launch of the Doha round of trade negotiations.
"The next real step for the US in the Asia-Pacific region is to focus on the Southeast Asian countries that are ready to move toward bilateral free trade agreements with the US," the top US trade negotiator said.
But Zoellick, in Singapore at the start of a regional tour, stressed that Washington was not intending to ram through bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in order to circumvent the workings of the WTO. Bureau Report
"They appreciate that, just as in the cold war, economics and security go together."
While he acknowledged the "dampening economic effect" terrorism has had, he said governments have not thrown up trade barriers in response.
"The encouraging sign over the past year is that this effect, plus the global slowdown, has not led countries in general to protectionism but instead to push for openness."
When asked if another major terrorist attack or a crisis with Iraq over weapons of mass destruction would disrupt trade liberalisation, he said: "I don't believe so."
He pointed to key accomplishments after the September 11 terrorist attacks last year, including bringing china and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the launch of the Doha round of trade negotiations.
"The next real step for the US in the Asia-Pacific region is to focus on the Southeast Asian countries that are ready to move toward bilateral free trade agreements with the US," the top US trade negotiator said.
But Zoellick, in Singapore at the start of a regional tour, stressed that Washington was not intending to ram through bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in order to circumvent the workings of the WTO. Bureau Report