Still, when the issue came up during the free-trade negotiations, the Canadian negotiators agreed to procedures under which the Canadian standards would be "reviewed."

The Mexican leader was apparently amplifying the recommendations of a Senate report on Monday urging free-trade negotiations just with the United States.

FTAA: The Bush administration says it is opening free-trade negotiations with Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama.

They cited the Group of Seven's failure to meet its 1990 deadline for concluding the Uruguay Round of free-trade negotiations.

But if you really want to reduce world poverty, you should be cheering on those guys in pinstripe suits at the free-trade negotiations and those investors jetting around the world.

So, instead of dwelling on that issue, Mr. Bush tersely denounced Mr. Castro and promised to resurrect free-trade negotiations with Latin America.

Moreover, after failed or postponed international efforts to reduce trade barriers in telecommunications, financial services and shipping, analysts said a technology accord could lend impetus to other free-trade negotiations.

The free-trade negotiations have been under way for 16 months.

Mexican leaders have decided that it is and they have suggested starting the process for free-trade negotiations.

At the Leaders' Meeting held on November 19, 2006 in Hanoi, APEC leaders called for a new start to global free-trade negotiations while condemning terrorism and other threats to security.