New push to get China into WTO begins Thursday

06/28/2001

China's long-awaited entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) moves a step closer on Thursday with the launch of a new round of talks with WTO members.

Beijing has concluded separate negotiations with the US and EU in the last few weeks, prompting optimism that China's membership could now be in sight.

WTO director-general Mike Moore said the deals with the two leading trading powers had given China's accession process "new momentum". Beijing began trying to join the now 141-member trade body 15 years ago.

Moore urged all governments taking part in the talks scheduled to run until July 4 to make every effort to resolve outstanding matters. It is the first meeting of the working party on China's accession since January.

"I remain hopeful that a decision can be taken on China's membership at our ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar, this November," Moore added.

WTO members are seeking to "multilateralise" the agreements between China and the US and China and the EU at this week's meeting in Geneva, meaning other WTO members must also agree the terms and conditions.

Under the deals, the EU and US largely cleared some last hurdles with China, securing stronger commitments on access to Chinese markets and on the level of agricultural subsidies.

"The way is now clear for China to join the WTO in coming months," EU Trade Representative Pascal Lamy said in a statement following the June 21 accord with Beijing.

China still has to sign a bilateral pact with Mexico and about five central American countries.

Discussions must also be completed on multilateral documents that explain in detail how China will implement its commitments under the WTO.

Trade sources do not rule out that this stage could be finished by the time WTO ministers meet in Doha, Qatar, from November 9 until 13.

That would not mark the end of the process, however.

The documents would then have to be formally approved by the WTO's ruling executive body, ratified by the National People's Congress and only 30 days after Beijing sends its notification back to WTO headquarters would China officially take up its place.

"When you add up all those months, China actually coming into the WTO this year becomes difficult," WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said this week.

If China is not officially a member by the Qatar gathering, it automatically qualifies, as all candidates negotiating membership, to take part in the ministerial conference as an observer.