WASHINGTON-U.S. and Chinese officials will resume talks mid-May in Beijing in hopes of reaching a landmark deal by June that would dramatically open up the wireless equipment and services market in the huge Asian nation and allow China to enter the World Trade Organization.
U.S. officials, led by Robert Cassidy, deputy U.S. trade representative, departed Beijing last week. The trip followed the Clinton administration’s split decision during Premier Zhu Rongji’s visit here early last month not to embrace Chinese WTO accession until China makes more concessions.
The U.S. telecom industry, disappointed by President Clinton’s move, is pressing the White House and Congress to back WTO entry for China.
The Clinton administration reportedly is trying to use anti-China sentiment to its advantage by warning China that if it fails to give in to U.S. demands, the GOP-led Congress may decide against renewing most-favored-nation trade status for China later this spring.
Meanwhile, there is talk of the Senate crafting an omnibus trade bill with a fast-track provision that would force lawmakers to vote up or down on trade agreements negotiated by the administration. Fast track has been controversial in recent years, teaming far-right Republicans who have protectionist and isolationist tendencies with liberal Democrats who have close ties to organized labor.
