[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.