WASHINGTON, 24 January 2004 — US trade officials downplayed chances on Wednesday of reaching a quick deal with Saudi Arabia on its bid to join the World Trade Organization, despite recent optimistic assessments. “We have a lot of work to do,” said Richard Mills, a spokesman for the US Trade Representative’s office told Reuters. “But we’re making progress.” The world’s largest oil exporter is one of only a handful of major-league countries that are still outside the WTO. Commerce Minister Hashem Yamani last week said Riyadh had narrowed differences with the United States that have been blocking its bid and wanted to join the WTO “tomorrow.” Yamani will visit Washington in early February for talks with US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.