1.   Hamilton, proclaiming his innocence, was forced out as trade minister in charge of business integrity.

2.   He was speaking before meeting European Community trade ministers.

3.   Also resigning was foreign trade minister Morris Harf, who sparked controversy because of the sizeable debts he and his family incurred with state lending institutions.

4.   Among other key Cabinet posts, Hashimoto appointed former Labor Minister Mitsuo Horiuchi as new trade minister, and veteran LDP politician Kanezo Muraoka as chief Cabinet secretary.

5.   An aide, Claudio Vitalone, a former foreign trade minister, was also found innocent in the killing of Carmine Pecorelli.

6.   And the Seattle spectacle has simply prompted trade ministers to push tariff reductions in private talks.

7.   APEC foreign and trade ministers meet next month.

8.   APEC trade ministers approved a so-called action agenda Friday laying out principles for trade liberalization and cooperation among the members.

9.   Andean Pact trade ministers will meet next Thursday in Brazil with their Mercosur counterparts, and again in July in Colombia, in talks aimed at completing their membership.

10.   Asia-Pacific trade ministers are pushing the world to embrace free trade in everything from banking to autos.