WTO talks likely to be shifted

By Alex Frew McMillan
CNN in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, China (CNN) -- It appears increasingly likely that next month's World Trade Organization talks will be moved from Doha, Qatar, due to concerns about terrorism.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick fuelled speculation talks might be shifted away because the risks of the meeting may bother some WTO members.

The topic of moving the WTO meet, due to start in three weeks, first surfaced at a recent meeting of trade ministers in Singapore.

Noting that Qatar has gone to extraordinary preparation efforts, Zoellick said that the November date for the WTO discussions was more important than their venue.

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"The key point is, one way or another we have to go ahead and launch this round of negotiation," he said.

That implies the meeting may well be moved.

Singapore said it had been approached by WTO executive director Mike Moore about being a "spare tire," able to host the event at short notice.

"Singapore agreed reluctantly to be a spare tire, and continues to hope that other spare tires will be available," said George Yong-Boon Yeo, Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry. "We continue to hope that our spare tire will not be used."

Zoellick largely backed off on discussion of the antiterrorism talks that have captured most of the early attention at APEC.

He also declined to answer a question on the bitter dispute between Taiwan and China, which has again reared its head at APEC.

Asked whether the buildup of short-range missiles in China that are pointed to Taiwan poses a threat and undermines confidence in the region, he said it would be inappropriate for him to answer questions of state with Secretary of State Colin Powell in town.

U.S. President George W. Bush also touched down Thursday evening and will meet with Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin on Friday.

This is Bush's first visit to China, and the biggest gathering of dignitaries here in half a century.

Mexico will take over from China as host of next year's APEC meetings, followed through 2005 by Thailand, Chile and South Korea.