Good news for Gatt

Deadlocked world trade talks took on a new lease on life yesterday when President Bill Clinton said he would ask Congress to extend his wide-ranging authority to negotiate an agreement for 10 more months, Reuter reports from Washington.

Deadline after deadline has been pushed back in the Uruguay round of the Gatt talks, which Mr Clinton now wants to wrap up by 15 December. Trading partners immediately welcomed Mr Clinton's move as a step forward.