Pacific Trade Negotiators Target ‘Sensitive Issues,’ U.S. Says
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Negotiators seeking a trade accord among nine Pacific nations will try to resolve the most sensitive issues over the next two months after progress this week on less divisive matters, a U.S. trade official said.
The U.S. is preparing suggestions for labor-rights protections, an issue that stalled ratification of a pending free-trade agreement with Colombia, and will continue work on access for products and services in different markets, Barbara Weisel, who led delegates to this week’s eighth round of talks in Chicago, told reporters yesterday. The U.S. will also propose rules for state-owned enterprises, she said.