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US Negotiating Team Heads to Beijing Amid WTO Entry Talks

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A high-level US negotiating team led by President Clinton's chief economic adviser Gene Sperling and US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky is set to arrive in Beijing, as China's trade minister expressed optimism about reaching market-opening agreements for Chinese entry to the World Trade Organization. The team's arrival follows three inconclusive talks between Barshefsky and Chinese trade officials in the past two months, and marks Sperling's first involvement in the negotiations. The White House intends to conclude a deal, and the team is expected to meet with Chinese negotiators on Wednesday and Thursday.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US negotiating team, led by Gene Sperling and Charlene Barshefsky, is on its way to Beijing to discuss China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • China has been trying to join the WTO for 13 years and needs to conclude separate market access agreements with several trading partners, including the United States and the European Union.
  • Negotiations with the United States have been stalled since April, when President Clinton rejected a broad offer from Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.
  • China's trade minister has expressed optimism about reaching market-opening agreements, but a Western diplomat noted that the Chinese negotiators are likely to take a pragmatic and constructive approach.
  • The Clinton administration made public details of Zhu's offer, which was rejected, and NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia is said to have contributed to the strained relations between the two countries.
  • The US team is expected to meet with Chinese negotiators on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the terms of China's WTO entry.

Statistics:

  • China has been trying to join the WTO for 13 years.
  • The US negotiating team has held three sessions of inconclusive talks with Chinese trade officials in the past two months.
  • The negotiations have been stalled since April, when Clinton rejected Zhu's offer.

Sources:

  • "U.S., China to Resume WTO Talks Amid Optimism," Reuters, June 13, 1999
  • "China's WTO Bid Hits Snags, But Optimism Remains," Xinhua, June 12, 1999
  • "Zhu Rongji's Offer to the United States," China Daily, April 20, 1999
  • "NATO Bombs Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia," Xinhua, May 9, 1999

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