Mexico took the first step last week by agreeing to consider free-trade talks with the United States.

International Government officials urged top corporate leaders to support global free-trade talks and to invest in former Soviet republics.

The similarities between the two Administrations are obscured by the contrast to the Bush Administration's strong free-trade talk.

The glaring credibility gap dividing the developed world's free-trade talk from its market-distorting actions on agriculture cannot be allowed to continue.

Another point of potential tension is the hemispheric free-trade talks, which are supposed to reach an agreement by 2005.

But she said retaliation was inappropriate at this time because of global free-trade talks that are continuing.

Trade experts, however, say the sugar program makes free-trade talk seem hollow.

Then he plans to open free-trade talks with five Central American countries and four countries in southern Africa.

Mr. Palacio has pledged to continue the free-trade talks.

Although a subject of intense public debate in Canada, the free-trade talks have been virtually ignored in this country.