But the biggest contributors, which also include Canada, Japan and Germany, are likely to push for something more modest. Some critics say Mr. Moore has paid too much attention to developing countries. He has, for instance, traveled to Africa half a dozen times. Some of his initiatives for the least- developed countries, including a program for technical assistance in trade matters, have not won support from the biggest trading powers. Developing countries also want more time to carry out Uruguay Round commitments to protect intellectual property rights, bring investment policies into line with free- trade rules and align national regulations on animal and plant health and safety and food safety.
Industrial countries say such a delay is an attempt to rewrite existing agreements.
Managing this diverse and fractious crowd is a huge challenge, and cajoling, the trademark of Mr. Moore's predecessor, Renato Ruggiero, is essential to the job. Of course, trading nations used to be an exclusive, and tiny, group. Mr. Moore does not expect the way ahead to be easy.