Obama went straight to an APEC dinner after arriving around 7:00 a.m. EST (1200 GMT) in Singapore, where leaders wore long-sleeved linen shirts reflecting the local Malay-Chinese culture, underscoring a tradition to don shirts from the host country at the summit's main dinner party.Although Obama proclaimed his faith in open markets, the sniping of regional leaders ahead of his arrival underlined the challenge he faces to convince them it's more than lip service.
After taking office in January, the U.S. president focused first on a huge stimulus to the economy and then on a domestic agenda that so far has included little attention to trade.
Open markets? By the way Obama is now our first Ocean President:
Calling himself "America's first Pacific President," the Hawaii-born Obama signaled in Tokyo a commitment to the region, but with no specifics on how to re-invigorate his trade agenda.
And of course the obligatory attack on the Bush Admin:
"I know that the United States has been disengaged from these organizations in recent years. So let me be clear: those days have passed ... the United States expects to be involved in the discussions that shape the future of this region, and to participate fully in appropriate organizations."
3 more years of this.
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