Japan received strong support Monday from the World Trade Organization, the United States, Australia and Canada for its proposal to help developing countries implement WTO commitments in trade and investment liberalization.
WTO Director General Mike Moore told reporters after talks with Takashi Fukaya, Japan's minister of International Trade and Industry, that Tokyo's proposal would help restore the confidence of developing countries in the WTO, which he said is needed if there is to be any early launch of a new round of multilateral trade talks.
Moore and Fukaya held a half-hour meeting on the eve of a two-day session of trade ministers from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Darwin, northern Australia.
U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Richard Fisher told a press conference that Japan "deserves a great deal of credit" for having formulated and promoted new programs for capacity-building and technical assistance.