Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=02/17/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / CHINA TRADE L ONLY

NUMBER=2-299722

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S Trade Representative Robert Zoellick says China has done a good job of implementing World Trade Organization agreements since becoming a member 14 months ago. But as V-O-A Beijing correspondent Jim Randle reports, Washington's top trade official is pushing Beijing to move faster to give U-S farmers and other exporters the market access they were promised.

TEXT: The U-S trade representative praised Chinese officials for their efforts to liberalize trade since the communist country joining the World Trade Organization a little more than a year ago.

After meetings with Vice Premier Wen Jiabao and Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng, Robert Zoellick said the government has made impressive progress in certain areas particularly introducing new corporate-friendly laws.

/// ZOELLICK ACT 1 ///

In the context, the scope of China, the changes, I

think the performance has been pretty good.

/// END ACT ///

But Mr. Zoellick stressed more progress was needed in key sectors - particularly financial services and

agriculture.

/// ZOELLICK ACT 2 ///

There are areas where we want to be sure China moves

as rapidly as we believe it can.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Zoellick says American farmers are not getting the access to Chinese markets anticipated under W-T-O guidelines. Upon joining the global trade body, Beijing pledged to establish lower tariffs on certain agricultural products, but these advantages have been off-set by additional regulations.

The U-S trade representative also raises concerns that China was making it too hard for foreign business to get licenses by requiring excessively large capital reserves.

Speaking to reporters Monday Mr. Zoellick said the meetings were positive and he thinks some progress was made on Chinese concerns about importing genetically-modified U-S soybeans.

China and the United States did nearly 100 billion

dollars in trade last year (2002) up more than 20 percent from 2001. The United States is China's second largest trade partner and Mr. Zoellick says the two countries should start planning even greater long-term economic cooperation. (Signed)

NEB/HK/JR/JO