81.   Trade ministers Friday expressed optimism that negotiations would succeed in time for Singapore.

82.   Trade ministers from Asian nations added their voices, saying a new round was urgently needed to head off the protectionism that often flares when economies slow down.

83.   Trade ministers were gathering for a new round of global trade talks.

84.   Trade minister have reached one milestone agreements at the meeting already.

85.   Trade ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group began talks to reconcile conflicting visions of a free trade plan for the region.

86.   Trade ministers meeting in Seattle are seeking to begin a lengthy new round of talks.

87.   Trade ministers gathering in Geneva next week are expected to discuss the turtle dispute.

88.   Trade ministers will attend the Seattle meeting of the WTO, the relatively new world organization in which international trade issues are negotiated and disputes resolved.

89.   Tsukahara and Barshefsky are expected to meet later this week during a round of talks in Kobe, Japan, with trade ministers from the European Union and Canada.

90.   Trade Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto of Japan has been meeting with other trade ministers in a bid to rally support for the Japanese cause.