Optimism grows on China’s accession to WTO
Confidence was mounting in Geneva last week that multilateral talks on Beijing’s accession to the World Trade Organisation WTO could be finalised within days, paving the way for China becoming a full member of the trade body in time for a crucial meeting in Qatar in November.
Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, quoted Long Yongtu, a deputy trade minister and leading WTO negotiator, as saying: "We hope that with the understanding and support of all WTO members, the substantive talks on China's WTO accession can conclude comprehensively in the coming working group conference."
The talks are currently taking place in Geneva and are due to conclude on July 4.
In the same report, Mr Long was quoted as saying that he had a "positive attitude" toward China being granted full membership in Qatar.
Mr Long's comments follow on from China’s talks with the European Commission last week, an event that also source of optimism in Brussels that the working party meeting this week can conclude multilateral negotiations.
"It is possible that in Qatar the decision on Chinese entry will be taken," said Anthony Gooch, spokesman for Pascal Lamy, EU trade commissioner.
Multilateral issues that are yet to be resolved include provisions on Technical Barriers to Trade and the mechanisms for the transitional review of China's implementation of its commitments, he said.
After three days of negotiations between Mr Lamy and the Chinese trade minister, Shi Guangsheng, the EU said it had received guarantees from the Chinese on all the commitments Beijing agreed to when the original deal was completed in May 2000.
The EU said that under the revised deal, European companies would have the right to choose freely the partners with which they wish to enter into joint ventures in China
