US President George W. Bush said Friday he was ready to show flexibility to revive the moribund Doha round of world trade talks, but warned that intransigence by just a handful of countries could bring negotiations to a standstill.
"The United States has both the will and the flexibility to help conclude a successful Doha Round, and we urge our Apec partners to join us in this vital effort," Bush said in prepared remarks to a business forum on the eve of an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.
"No single country can make Doha a success, but it is possible for a handful of countries that are unwilling to make the necessary contributions to bring Doha to a halt," he said. Bush, who has been accused by some critics of not devoting enough attention to the Asia-Pacific region, said his commitment to that part of the world was "unshakeable".