Pacific Group Expands by 2 Nations Mexico, Papua New Guinea Gain Membership at Summit

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A SUMMIT meeting of Pacific Rim leaders moved into high gear Thursday, admitting Mexico and Papua New Guinea and promising Chile membership.

Top ministers from 17 countries making up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group met to lay the groundwork for today's gathering. Then President Bill Clinton, flush with victory on the North American Free Trade Agreement, will press his Asian counterparts to keep up the momentum on sweeping away barriers to trade.

With the NAFTA vote behind him, Clinton is in Seattle with a stronger hand to seek concessions. White House officials had feared that a defeat on NAFTA would have undercut his position in his dealings with …