Text: USTR Says U.S. Expects China to Live Up to All WTO Commitments
(USTR Robert Zoellick statement)The United States expects the Beijing regime to live up to all its commitments for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert B. Zoellick said in a September 6 statement.
"China made commitments on insurance as part of its bilateral accession agreement with the United States," Zoellick said.
"These commitments will be incorporated into China's WTO accession agreement, and therefore would be applicable for all WTO members. We expect China to uphold all of its commitments and obligations," he continued.
Following is the text of a September 6 press release from the Office of the USTR:
(begin text)
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508September 06, 2001
Zoellick Statement Regarding China's WTO Accession Commitments
WASHINGTON -- United States Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick today issued the following statement regarding recent news reports about the commitments China made on the issue of insurance and market access, as part of their accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO):
"China made commitments on insurance as part of its bilateral accession agreement with the United States. These commitments will be incorporated into China's WTO accession agreement, and therefore would be applicable for all WTO members. We expect China to uphold all of its commitments and obligations."
In November 1999 the United States and China agreed on a bilateral market access agreement that sets the terms for China's entry into the WTO. As part of this agreement, China specifically made a commitment that any conditions of ownership, operation and scope of activities, as set out in a foreign firm's contract, shareholder agreement, or in license, would not be made more restrictive than they exist as of the date of China's accession to the WTO. China also agreed to permit foreign insurance firms to branch throughout China, following a timetable set out in China's accession documents.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
Return to The United States and China.Return to IIP Home Page.