U.S., China Both Stress Need To Reach Outcomes By Next WTO Ministerial

摘要

Late last week, Chinese Ambassador Yi Ziaozhun and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Michael Punke both stressed that World Trade Organization members must forge concrete agreements ahead of a WTO ministerial planned for December 3-6 next year in Indonesia. Moreover, both officials pointed to trade facilitation, agricultural issues, and issues aimed at helping the economies of poorer countries as potential areas where compromises might emerge. Speaking at a Dec. 7 meeting of the WTO's Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC), the Chinese ambassador said that these three areas are "potential candidates" for the next ministerial meeting. At the same time, he noted that China believes such a "small package of deliverables" would only be "the first stop of our entire journey," meaning the entire Doha round must be concluded at some later date, according to his prepared remarks.