Finance ministers from Asia-Pacific nations meeting in Vietnam have pledged to work toward restarting talks on freer international commerce.
The 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) wrapped up their two-day meeting today in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi.
They have released a joint statement saying they will work with their countries' trade authorities to get talks started again on what is known as the Doha round of World Trade Organization negotiations. Those talks aim to standardize international trade and tariff rules, so as to promote fair and balanced development worldwide.
The Doha talks have stalled, mostly because of disagreements over the subsidies some wealthier nations provide to their farmers.
APEC member nations account for almost half of world trade.
