Bush wants world trade deal before leaving office

WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) President George W Bush today said he hopes to present Congress with a new world trade deal before leaving office in January 2009.

''Hopefully, I'll be able to bring back a successful negotiations on Doha for a congressional vote,'' Bush told reporters during a White House press conference when asked about goals for his remaining time in office.

The United States and other key World Trade Organization members recently have set a target of finishing the Doha round of world trade talks by the end of the year.

However, negotiators have missed deadline after deadline since the Doha round was launched in November 2001.

An upcoming meeting of the G4 trading partners -- the United States, the European Union, India and Brazil -- on June 19-24 is considered make-or-break for the Doha round.

Bush said he would also push for an extension of White House trade promotion authority, which expires at the end of June, to complete the Doha round of talks.

That legislation allows the White House to negotiate trade deals that Congress must approve or reject without making changes. It is considered essential for other countries to negotiate seriously with the United States in world trade talks.

However, many Democrats in Congress say they must see a major breakthrough in the Doha round before considering even a temporary extension of trade promotion authority.

Bush also said he wanted to win approval of free trade pacts with Peru, Colombia and Panama, ''and further the work we've done on the (South) Korean free trade agreement.'' The United States is expected to sign the free trade agreement with South Korea before the end of June.

That could set the stage for a vote on the agreement early in 2008, but some expect it to be delayed until after that year's presidential and congressional elections in November.

The same could apply to a Doha deal, which would have to be signed and then converted into US legislation after final details are nailed down.

Reuters SLD GC2307