U.S. AFTER TRANSPARENT TRADE ACROSS ASIA-PACIFIC REGION; PLANS TO DOUBLE EXPORTS IN FIVE YEARS

Washington, March 11- The United States will step up efforts for free, open and transparent trade across the Asia Pacific region as it seeks to double US exports in five years, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Clinton, addressing officials from the Asia Pacific Economic Forum, said expanding economic engagement with the Asia Pacific region remained a cornerstone of US policy despite doubts at home about whether the global playing field is rigged against the United States.

“The United States seeks partnerships that are governed by reasonable, rules-based approaches that give businesses from all of our economies the chance to compete and that are grounded in shared principles,” Clinton said.

“To citizens of my own country, who see factories closing down at home as products continue to flow in from overseas, and who wonder whether economic integration will hurt their families in the long run, let me say this: Ensuring that economic engagement delivers results to the American people is a top domestic priority”.

US President Barack Obama will host this year's APEC summit in Hawaii in November, and Clinton said the 21-member group could help meet challenges including rising food and fuel prices, climate change and creating economic opportunity.

Obama has set the goal of doubling US exports in five years as he seeks to jump-start economic growth and beat back stubbornly high unemployment.

Clinton did not mention the China trade dispute specifically but did outline a set of US priorities for the region that underscore Washington's concerns over unfair treatment.

“The United States is looking for a level playing field, an environment in which businesses rise and fall based on honest competition, rather than government manipulation,” Clinton said, adding that trade ties should be open, free and transparent to ensure maximum rewards.

Clinton singled out intellectual property rights and “indigenous innovation” -a policy some countries adopt to favour domestic technology- as issues that need to be addressed to balance competition.

The United States hopes to finalize a free trade deal soon with South Korea, as well as agreements with Colombia and Panama, she said, adding the South Korean pact could be a model for cutting tariff restrictions and improving market access.

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