Bush to speak to PM?

By C. Rammanohar Reddy

DOHA, NOV. 9. The U.S. President, Mr. George Bush, may speak to the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, at the Indo-U.S. summit about the need for India to give up its opposition to the launch of a new round of trade talks at the WTO.

``I will not be surprised if the President speaks to the Prime Minister of India about the WTO when they meet in Washington,'' said Mr. Robert Zoellick, the U.S. Trade Representative, at a press conference here today, shortly before the fourth ministerial conference was inaugurated by the Emir of Qatar.

Mr. Zoellick was responding to a question which pointed out that while the U.S. had identified Japan and India as the two biggest obstacles to the launch of a new round of trade talks, Mr. Bush had written to the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Junichoro Koizumi, calling for their support for fresh trade talks.

Mr. Zoellick spoke once again about the need for all developing countries to join in the launch of a new round as trade liberalisation will help lift millions of people out of poverty.

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