Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=07/04/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=W-T-O / CHINA (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-277912

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Trade officials say China is much closer to its goal of membership in the World Trade Organization (W-T-O). Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the officials say agreements have been reached on most of the contentious trade issues during the latest round of talks, paving the way for China's membership in the W-T-O by the end of the year.

TEXT: Senior trade officials say China's 15-year quest to become a member of the World Trade Organization is close at hand. The chairman of W-T-O's working group on China, Pierre Louis Girard, says a week-long meeting in Geneva has resulted in major breakthroughs on the issues regarding China's membership in the W-T-O.

/// GIRARD ACT ///

As a result of this development, I think that we can with some confidence envisage a wrapping up of this process, which has lasted now for 15 years, in what I hope will be the very near future.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Girard says agreements have been reached in areas such as anti-dumping measures, safeguards regarding textiles, and trade related aspects of intellectual property rights. And he says that an informal agreement was reached on agriculture.

Mr. Girard says two remaining issues on tariffs and services need to be resolved.

China's chief trade negotiator, Long Yongtu, says he believes China's entry into the W-T-O will be approved by trade ministers when they meet in Doha, Quatar, in November to launch a new round of global free trade talks.

/// LONG ACT ///

I am very confident, because my confidence comes out of the member states, which took the floor at the closing session today. They all expressed hopes that China would be welcomed to W-T-O at the Doha meeting in November.

/// OPT /// Because the decision will be made by the members of the W-T-O and if they think they are confident to do that, we share their confidence. /// END OPT ///

/// END ACT ///

The U-S assistant trade representative, Jeffrey Bader, calls the just completed session extraordinarily successful. He says consensus has been achieved on almost all of the remaining difficult issues.

/// BADER ACT ///

I think it lays the groundwork for the possibility that China's accession to the W-T-O can occur within the year if there are good faith efforts by all concerned.

/// OPT /// This process has been going on for 15 years and the end is now in sight with sincerity and effort by all concerned. /// END OPT ///

/// END ACT ///

Negotiators will meet again in mid-July to work on the text of the membership agreement. If all goes well, trade officials say another meeting will be held in mid-September to formally endorse an entry package. This would give trade ministers permission to approve China's admission into the 141-member body in November. (Signed)

NEB/LS/GE/JWH