US, China Reach Consensus on Beijing WTO Accession

U.S., China Reach Consensus on Beijing WTO Accession

(USTR June 9 release on understanding reached in Shanghai)

After 14 years of negotiations, the United States and China have reached consensus on remaining bilateral concerns related to China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both countries plan to work together in Geneva to complete that process, according to a June 9 news release from the Office of United States Trade Representative (USTR).

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick called the agreement reached in Shanghai "a win-win result" for Beijing and Washington.

"It should help us and other nations of the WTO to try to complete China's accession this year," Zoellick said, "China is clearly on the way into the WTO."

The Sino-U.S. talks in Shanghai dealt with issues such as domestic supports for agriculture, according to the USTR release.

Following is the text:

(begin text)

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Executive Office of the President Washington, D.C. 20508

01-36 For Immediate Release June 9, 2001

U.S. and China Reach Consensus on China's Accession to WTO

WASHINGTON -- The Office of the United States Trade Representative has today announced that after 14 years of negotiations, the United States and China have reached consensus on remaining bilateral concerns related to China's WTO accession, indicating that both countries plan to work together in Geneva to complete China's WTO accession. In addition, both countries will work closely with other WTO members to build on the consensus reached by the United States and China this past week in Shanghai.

"This understanding is a win-win result for China and the U.S. It should help us and the other nations of the WTO to try to complete China's accession this year," said U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. "China is clearly on the way into the WTO, and a strong supporter of the new WTO round. In addition this progress should add momentum to our efforts to launch a new global round of trade negotiations in Doha this November."

"I am pleased to build on the accomplishments of my predecessor, Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, who worked for many months to achieve the bilateral accord in November 1999," Zoellick said.

The U.S.-China bilateral negotiations were held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade, held in Shanghai. Issues discussed between the United States and China were: domestic support for agriculture; many services, such as distribution and retail business; and, trading rights.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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