    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 8, 1999]
    [Pages 527-528]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint United States-China Statement: Status of Negotiations on China's
    Accession to the World Trade Organization
    April 8, 1999

        On the occasion of the official visit of the Premier of the
    Government of the People's Republic of China Premier Zhu Rongji, to the United States, President of the United States
    William Jefferson Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji jointly affirm that
    China's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) is in the
    interest of the United States, the People's Republic of China, and the
    global trading system. To that end, they welcome the significant
    progress made by the United States and the People's Republic of China
    toward a strong agreement based on a balance of rights and obligations.
    Noting that agreement has not been reached on some important issues,
    they commit to work to resolve these remaining issues through further
    bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a strong agreement as the
    basis for the accession of the People's Republic of China to the WTO.
        President Clinton and Premier Zhu recognize the complexity of WTO
    accession negotiations. In this regard, they note that agreement has
    been reached on market access for agricultural and industrial goods as
    well as a wide range of services sectors, as set out in Attachment 1,
    but that certain matters remain to be resolved in banking, including
    consumer auto finance, as well as securities and audio visual services.
    They further welcome the conclusion of the Sino-U.S.

    [[Page 528]]

    Agricultural Cooperation Agreement, especially the resolution of
    bilateral issues concerning imports by the People's Republic of China of
    U.S. citrus, meat products, and Pacific Northwest wheat, as set out in
    Attachment 2. President Clinton and Premier Zhu note agreement has been
    reached on a variety of important rules to be applicable to the WTO,
    concerning trading rights, technology transfer and offsets, state
    enterprises, and subsidies, as set out in Attachment 3. However, they
    recognize that certain differences remain to be resolved on a mechanism
    to ensure implementation, the duration of provisions governing dumping
    and product safeguards, and rules governing textiles trade.
        President Clinton and Premier Zhu welcome this significant progress
    and instruct their trade ministers to resume bilateral negotiations in
    order to satisfactorily resolve the important remaining issues as soon
    as possible in support of the common goal of admission of the People's
    Republic of China to the WTO on strong commercial terms in 1999.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.