In early August, a senior Obama administration official told Greenwire earlier this month that the U.S. has begun preliminary negotiations for commercial nuclear fuel leasing arrangements with several countries, including Mongolia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates.

FORBES: U.S. Looks to Export Nuclear Waste; Uranium 'Leasing'

Many complex issues such as access for foreign companies to China's commercial services sector have not been resolved, despite progress in bilateral negotiations.

BBC: China's WTO goal in sight

The commercial banks, led by Deutsche Bank, that run the London Club negotiations with Russia, have tolerated its pleas of poverty, perhaps with an eye to future business there.

ECONOMIST: Russia

The interested parties had wanted access to the accounts of the regional side, but Dragons commercial director Gethin Jenkins said the consortium has not yet tabled an acceptable offer that would allow negotiations to advance to that stage.

BBC: Dragons announce new ?40m stadium

Though the U.S. is Ecuador's most important trading partner, Alberto Acosta, who was elected to the constitutional assembly and serves as its president, opposes negotiations for a free trade agreement with the U.S. Instead, he wants "a commercial agreement"--some kind of half-step toward free trade.

FORBES: Chavistas in Quito