USA seeks deal on Chinas WTO entry

23 February 1999

USA seeks deal on China’s WTO entry

THE USA wants to strike a deal with the Chinese on Beijings entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) before a new round of trade talks starts later this year.

US officials have began a series of visits to China, beginning with a meeting today between Lawrence Summers, US deputy Treasury secretary, and Zhu Rhongji, Chinas premier.

Peter Scher, the US special agriculture negotiator expected to attend in the next few weeks, says any agreement is dependent on China agreeing to tariff and market liberalisation.

• China pressed to reform farm trade, FWi, 15 February, 1999
• Chinas bid to join WTO under review, FWi, 20 July, 1998
• Open up your markets, Clinton to tell Chinese, FWi, 10 June, 1998
• Financial Times 23/02/99 page 3 (News Digest)