Steven Sherman
>===== Original Message From lbo-talk at lists.panix.com =====
>15 December 1999
>China urged to buy more US agricultural products
>BEIJING: Beijing can help persuade the U.S. Congress to grant China
>permanent low-tariff trading rights by starting to import more American
>agricultural products, a senior US senator said on Tuesday.
>China should immediately implement an agreement it reached with the United
>States in April to drop barriers to imports of beef, citrus products and
>wheat from the U.S., Senator Max Baucus said at a briefing.
>China has yet to begin the wheat imports or send inspectors to Florida, as
>required by the agreement, said Baucus, a Democrat from Montana.
>Washington and Beijing reached a landmark trade deal last month smoothing
>China's way to enter the World Trade Organization, perhaps early next year.
>As part of the process, U.S. President Bill Clinton is asking Congress to
>give China permanent trading rights and do away with divisive annual
>reviews.
>Getting Congress to approve the permanent rights will be difficult and its
>members will be looking closely at China, said Baucus, who has supported
>trade relations for China and agrees with Clinton's policy not to link trade
>with human rights.
>"If rapid implementation of the agricultural cooperative agreement occurs,
>that will very much help," Baucus said. He predicted Congress would approve
>the measure next year if China lives up to the agriculture agreement and
>avoids any actions on human rights or Taiwan that would "roil the waters."
>Baucus said he offered his views on the trade debate in a meeting on Tuesday
>with Premier Zhu Rongji. During his two-day stay, Baucus also met with the
>agriculture minister and other officials. (AP)
> reprint rights: Times Syndication Service
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