Though no data are available yet on Japan's recent spate of bilateral deals, both Ms Barshefsky and Mr Lamy cautiously welcome them as signs of further liberalisation within the context of the WTO's multilateral system.The most recent bilateral agreement to make news, last month's pact between America and Jordan, promises to create more of a stir.
He hinted at better pensions for the worst-off, lower taxes for home-owners and restrictions on short-term employment, all policies that would please the UDC.Whatever else they may achieve, though, Mr Prodi's overtures to the right may not improve the chances of further liberalisation in Italy.
It is creating bad blood, especially between the Americans and many Asian countries, that will make it even harder to agree on an agenda for further liberalisation.
The revised agenda will be finalised at a last-minute meeting on Saturday but a controversial motion on pornography is set to be scrapped.Those calling for further liberalisation of porn laws have asked for the motion to be removed, as have those behind the debate on world trade.
During the last election campaign, I was a commentator on a TV channel and was astonished by the confidence with which so many so-called experts declared that the Congress victory was a) a victory for free market economics and b) a signal for further liberalisation.
China remains far from embracing a free-floating currency, let alone a fully convertible one, which would require further liberalisation of controls on cross-border financial flows.
As the government moved to provide a warm welcome for Li on his arrival on Monday evening by announcing a further liberalisation of the visa regime for all Chinese visitors, Clegg used strong language to condemn the entire Chinese political system.
Yet with higher trade barriers, on average, than rich countries, they have the most to gain from further liberalisation.
