US urges Asia-Pacific help to revive Doha talks

SINGAPORE, Nov 16 (Reuters) The White House today urged Asia-Pacific nations to help revive frozen Doha world trade talks, reasserting President George W Bush's economic agenda for the region at the start of a three-nation tour.

It also said Bush believed a free trade zone encompassing the 21-nation Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum ''deserves serious consideration'', despite a rebuff of a U S bid to make the proposal a key part of this weekend's summit in Hanoi.

Bush is trying to reassert his influence on the world stage after his Republican Party lost control of Congress in last week's elections, imperilling his legislative agenda in the final two years of his term.

The APEC summit is expected to focus on efforts to restart the Doha talks, which collapsed in July amid clashes over subsidies and tariffs for farm goods.

''Only an ambitious Doha agreement with real market access can achieve the economic growth and development goals that the world has set,'' the White House said in a statement ahead of a speech by Bush setting out the goals of his Asia tour.

''We look to nations across the Asia-Pacific region to help put these vital talks back on track,'' it said.

The idea of an APEC-wide free trade area has been on the table for years.

But APEC foreign and trade ministers meeting in Hanoi yesterday to lay the groundwork for the leaders' summit ended their debate on the issue deciding it should only be studied ''as a long-term objective'', Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba said.

In reiterating Bush's support for such a free trade zone, the White House said: ''We want to help APEC become a stronger organisation that serves as an engine for economic growth and opportunity throughout the region.'' APEC's economies account for nearly half of world trade and generate 70 per cent of global economic growth.

REUTERS AKJ BS1503