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To: Evan who wrote (4749)	9/25/1999 3:56:00 PM
From: jmhollen	Respond to of 7209

"....From the jus' so's ya know Department....": U.S. business presses for WTO deal with China By Adam Entous WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The United States' largest business group urged the Clinton administration on Friday to strike a World Trade Organisation pact with China without delay, putting pressure on U.S. negotiators ahead of next week's high-level talks with officials from Beijing. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue said he was confident a market-opening deal between the trading powers was within reach and that the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress would eventually support it, although not necessary before the November 2000 presidential and congressional elections. Rather than hold up a pact to win further concessions, as suggested by senior Clinton administration officials, Donohue said the U.S. business community was prepared to accept the market-access terms that were proposed by the Chinese last April, but rejected by President Bill Clinton. ''You get the deal, you send it up, we'll get it done,'' Donohue told reporters in Washington. The Chamber of Commerce and other U.S. business groups have a lot riding on Beijing's accession since it would help American companies tap China's vast market, potentially the world's largest with 1.2 billion consumers. Donohue's comments increased pressure on U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky to strike a WTO pact when she meets with her Chinese counterpart, Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng, in Washington on Monday. Donohue said he would meet with Barshefsky on Friday to discuss trade issues, including China's accession and labour's opposition in the upcoming round of global trade negotiations, starting with a WTO meeting in Seattle in late November. Unions want WTO trade deals to improve labour standards. They also opposed a WTO pact with China, and have put pressure on Vice President Al Gore to scuttle an agreement. Organised labour has been a longtime friend of Democrats, and Gore, the party's presidential front-runner, is counting on union support in next year's election. China needs U.S. support to join the 134-member trade body. It must also reach agreements with other members. Washington and Beijing were close to a pact in April when China unveiled a plan to reduce tariffs, open markets and increase access in such areas as agriculture, telecommunications and financial services. But Clinton turned down that deal in hope of winning concessions in the financial sector, and protections from surges in Chinese exports of textiles and steel. Donohue suggested that Barshefsky go back to terms proposed by the Chinese in April, rather than hold out for more. ''If we can get an agreement that's exactly like the one we had before, for example, I think the Chinese would probably agree to that, I think most American industry would support it.'' Donohue said he was certain lawmakers would approve the pact, despite concerns about human rights, a growing trade deficit, security for Taiwan and allegations that China stole U.S. nuclear secrets. But Donohue said it was unclear whether it would happen this year. As part of any pact, Clinton must persuade Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favoured nation status, which the United States now refers to as normal trade relations (NTR). The deadline for China's accession is widely seen as late November, when WTO ministers launch the next round of global trade talks in Seattle. China had high hopes of joining those talks, as any delay could leave it shut out of the global trading body for years. ''If the president and his representatives in these negotiations put a reasonable WTO deal with China on the table, the Congress will approve it and we'll do everything humanly possible to make sure it does,'' Donohue said. But he added: ''Does it have to get approved by our Congress by (late November)? It doesn't have to...I don't know whether they vote this thing before they have the congressional elections or they vote it after.'' Top Republicans in Congress say a vote granting permanent NTR to China was likely to be put off until next year. 18:52 09-24-99