OT: China and Forbes-mxrxns...
Sometimes simple, practical things are incredible hard to handle.. (I'm not thinking about the common aspects of Lewinsky and Ashcroft but more basic things in agricultural life and Thomas Jefferson, as well as wireless infrastructure and even importance of regular fertilizers)
Ilmarinen.
P.S. Finland is one of the few (only) nations with a viable moderate centerparty (dead skunks??) based on the individual (sexual) freedom of the family agrarian and their general as well as military importance.
P.P.S. If this crap could be used for fertilizing it wouldn't be that bad, but i guess it will just increase the regular overflows of the sewers.
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Around-The-Globe: China's WTO Bid Stalls
Todd Jatras, Forbes.com, 01.18.01, 3:56 PM ET
NEW YORK - China's 15-year bid to join the World Trade Organization hit a snag yesterday when negotiators were
unable to agree with a delegation from some 40 countries on agricultural subsidies and foreign access to its services
industries, particularly its insurance markets. Chinese officials had hoped this week would be the moment it finally joined the
world's premier trading organization, but it may now have to wait until this summer, if not significantly later in the year.
The biggest issue holding back China's accession to the WTO is whether or not it should be treated as a developing or a
developed nation on agricultural issues. The WTO allows developing countries to subsidize up to 10% of agricultural output,
whereas developed countries can only subsidize 5%. China currently subsidizes an estimated 2% of its output, but top
negotiator Long Yongtu refused to budge, insisting that China have the right to increase that figure to 10%, when it finds it
necessary.
Mr. Long, who is China's deputy trade minister, described China's subsidies as "peanuts," compared to those allowed in the
U.S. and the European Union. He was at times emotional while describing China's agricultural system, where "900 million
farmers work in the field, and 230 million people live under the poverty line." Long argued that since China has agreed to
give up all subsidies for exports, the WTO should allow it developing-nation status for agriculture. He added, "If 5 million
farmers in the United States are human beings, then 900 million farmers in China are human beings. They should all have
some entitlement."
But the U.S. and the Cairns Group, an 18-nation consortium--including Canada, Australia New Zealand and
Brazil--dedicated to liberalizing world agricultural trade, have taken a hard stance and are insisting that China can gain WTO
entrance only as a developed agricultural nation. China has already indicated that it would acquiesce to developed-nation
status in other areas, such as manufacturing.
Although China's entry into the WTO has been a major foreign-policy initiative for the Clinton administration, which viewed
China as a strategic partner, U.S. negotiators were extremely cautious about making compromises that an incoming Bush
administration would possibly reverse. U.S. Secretary of State-nominee Colin Powell said at a Senate confirmation hearing
yesterday that he considers China "a competitor and a potential regional rival, but also a trading partner." He also indicated
that the Bush administration would likely take a harder stance on the Taiwan question.
That could become a stumbling block when WTO talks on China resume. WTO Deputy Secretary General Paul-Henri
Ravier, who is the acting chairman for the talks, said that even though problems remain, "we see very clearly the shape of
the final package." Ravier said he hopes to hold the next session on China in late February or early March.
By that time, the Bush administration's views on China should be well known. But, in any case, China's accession to the
WTO appears to be stalled until they adjust their stance on agricultural subsidies. WTO membership should take place
roughly two months after the two sides finally agree on all issues and decide the terms of admission, putting China on track
for accession early this summer.
Any further stalls in the admission process could have a damaging effect on the Chinese economy, since foreign investments,
trading partnerships, changes to the country's financial system and a slew of reform would be delayed. Most of China's
economic forecasting and planning for the next couple of years have factored in WTO admission by the first half of 2001 at
the latest. |
