The next head of the World Trade Organisation has set an ambitious target to finish most of a new round of global market-opening talks by mid 2004.
Addressing a trade seminar in Tokyo, former Thai deputy prime minister Mr Supachai Panitchpakdi also proposed a major mediation role for the Geneva-based WTO to try to head off disputes such as the steel row.
Mr Supachai, who succeeds New Zealander Mr Mike Moore as the WTO's director-general on September 1st, said the steel dispute should be kept distinct from talks on an agenda of market liberalisation agreed by trade ministers last November in Doha.
"I don't think we should mix steel with the new negotiations. It's a separate issue," Mr Supachai said.
Mr Supachai said he could envisage the January 2005 deadline being extended for a year or two to finish work on controversial new areas such as competition rules.