US Trade Representative Visits China
Over a year after China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick will visit China … on a four day visit to discuss the WTO’s impact on China, ongoing economic reforms, bilateral trade issues and current global trade negotiations. Zoellick will have meetings with Vice Premier Wen Jiabao and MOFTEC Minister Shi Guangsheng.”Facilitating China’s accession to the WTO was a top priority and achievement of the Bush Administration’s first year. I look forward to meeting with my Chinese colleagues to discuss the important progress they have made in reforming their economy. However, we do have concerns that in some areas, particularly agriculture, Americans are not getting the access the Chinese promised and which the WTO mandates,” said Zoellick. “As a WTO member, China needs to fully implement WTOrules and reap the rewards of participating in the global market.”Following meetings in Beijing on Monday, February 17, where he will launch the U.S.-China Trade Dialogue, Zoellick will travel to Chongqing in western China tosee firsthand the economic opportunities and potential of the largest city in the world.”Chongqing is a city literally on the frontier between two worlds, facing a future of promise and hope. I am particularly interested in seeing the city of Chongqing in China’s interior, and meeting with officials, U.S. businesses and Chinese merchants and students who are actively working to improve their lives and their community,” added Zoellick.In Chongqing on Tuesday, Zoellick plans to tour a recently opened Ford factory which makes automobiles for the domestic Chinese market. He will tour an open produce market that provides Chinese consumers with top quality American produce. In his meetings with Chongqing officials, Zoellick will discuss how important it is for Chongqing to successfully implement its share of WTO rules, in order to compete and attract investment within China. In addition, Zoellick will meet with local students to discuss the WTO, highlighting the Chinese government’s efforts to educate the Chinese people on what WTO membershipmeans.From Chongqing, Zoellick will travel to Shenzhen where he will tour a Wal-Mart store that provides Chinese consumers with more consumer choice, better quality goods and lower prices. Finishing in Hong Kong,Zoellick on Wednesday will have meetings with Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and Secretary Henry Tang.The U.S.-China Trade Dialogue is a new bilateral forum designed to bring U.S. and Chinese officials from throughout their governments to discuss bilateral trade issues, resolve potential disputes and foster cooperation on issues within the ongoing Doha global trade negotiations.Zoellick is in Tokyo, Japan from Friday, February 14 through Sunday, February 16 for an informal meeting of WTO trade ministers to discuss the Doha trade negotiations. UStr Press Release February 14, 2003