Trade will dominate this week's agenda in Asia, but no explicit positive bang is in sight. After Mr. Bush did not succeed with the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in Argentine, progress on the WTO Doha round and a positive contribution of the U.S. in trade talks has become an even more important issue. Mr. Bush might also informally try to get Japan, China, and South Korea closer together again, to get some tangible results on FTA issues in Southeast Asia. But even top-agenda talks on IPR and tariff procedures will continue to move slowly.

In APEC, supporters of Doha-Round success have a majority, so there will certainly be a positive message to increase efforts for Doha-round deliberations. But singling out the EU as an obstacle to progress is also unlikely to produce positive results as long as France remains busy with its riots at home. So it is unlikely that the WTO Hong Kong meeting will yield any major results.