WASHINGTON-The Clinton administration is expected to resume trade talks with China this week, but prospects appear dim for congressional approval this year of Chinese membership in the World Trade Organization.
Speaking to reporters last Thursday, Richard Fisher, deputy U.S trade representative, said technical-level talks will be held between the two countries initially to re-engage.
It is unclear whether the talks will be held in Beijing or in Aukland, New Zealand, site of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade summit on Sept. 9-13. Robert Cassidy, assistant U.S. trade representative and top China trade negotiator, will take the lead in renewed U.S.-Sino trade dialogue.
Last April, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji agreed to major wireless market-opening concessions as a sweetener to win U.S. backing for Chinese WTO entry. China’s 2.1 billion people make it the most attractive emerging wireless market in the world.
But President Clinton chose not give China WTO support at that time.
Clinton’s decision, which some in Congress criticized afterward, created a backlash in China. U.S.-Sino relations worsened further after U.S.-led NATO forces accidentally-according to the United States-bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia in May.
Families of the three Chinese journalists killed in the bombing have received $4.5 million in compensation from the United States, but Communist China still believes it was intentional and has demanded that those responsible be punished.
“Obviously, we have a ways to go in terms of getting an agreement. We’re hopeful we can get back to the table with our negotiators to see if we can make progress on things that were agreed to last spring,” said John Podesta, chief of staff to Clinton, at a National Press Club briefing last Wednesday.
Even if a WTO trade pact is reached, getting Congress to sign onto it will be difficult.
Pro-labor Democrats and protectionist Republicans are expected to mount a vigorous fight to deny China normal trading relations status on a permanent basis.
The president could lose moderate Republicans and Democrats as well because of alleged U.S. technology transfers to China and Chinese theft of American nuclear secrets.
