Talks on for China's entry into WTO

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, MAY 30. Mr. Chris Patten, European Union's External Affairs Commissioner, is in Beijing for talks on China's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

According to European observers closely monitoring Mr. Patten's talks with China's Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co- operation, Mr. Shi Guangsheng, China is keen to join the forum before a key WTO meeting in November and wants to help finalise the agenda for the next round of WTO's multilateral negotiations. Mr. Shi said it was ``gross cynicism'' to believe that China had ``lost interest'' in joining the WTO early.

The more optimistic forecast in the European circles here is that China may join the WTO before the end of this year, depending on the outcome of its negotiations with the U.S. and the emergence of a Sino-American bilateral deal.

In November 1999, China and the U.S. for the first time agreed on a deal that could make Beijing a full-fledged member of the global economic community. It paved the way for China to pull out from its communist backwaters to emerge as the world's formidable trading powerhouse. But the E.U. and several other China's trading partners had then to agree to China's application and the process continues.

Mr. Patten was quoted as saying that Mr. Shi had assured him that China remained committed to an early accession to the WTO. The Europeans are also concerned that the deficit in the Sino- European trade is ballooning in China's favour and rose from euro 30 billion ($26 billions) in 1999 to euro 45 billions in 2000. Mr. Patten said the increase was unsustainable, and that China should lower its tariff and non-tariff barriers.

According to European observers, China is also passing through a phase of deep uncertainty over its relationship with the WTO which is highlighted by the strong stands taken by traditional conservatives and progressive radicals. Mr. Patten hence warned that the longer these talks in ``their last gasp stage go on, the more danger there is in them becoming polluted by politics''. But optimism about China's early entry is fuelled by Mr. Shi's remark that China wants to participate in the November round of talks.

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Section  : International
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