DATE=3/29/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247337
TITLE=CHINA / U-S / TRADE (L)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  THERE ARE SIGNALS OF PROGRESS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
AND  CHINA ON BEIJING'S APPLICATION TO ENTER THE WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION.  VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS THE U-S TRADE  
REPRESENTATIVE IS ON AN UNSCHEDULED TRIP TO CHINA, WHILE THE U-S 
COMMERCE SECRETARY IS IN BEIJING MEETING WITH CHINESE LEADERS.

TEXT:  AMERICAN OFFICIALS WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER A VISIT TO CHINA 
BY U-S TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY SIGNALS A 
BREAKTHROUGH  IN DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN U-S AND CHINESE NEGOTIATORS,
ON BEIJING'S BID TO JOIN THE W-T-O.

OFFICIALS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN WORKING TO NARROW  
DIFFERENCES IN KEY SECTORS -- SUCH AS AGRICULTURE, FINANCE AND 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

MEANTIME, U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY WILLIAM DALEY MET WITH CHINESE 
LEADERS IN BEIJING MONDAY AND HELPED PRESIDE OVER THE SIGNING OF 
SEVERAL TRADE DEALS.  HE SAYS CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI 
INDICATED THAT BEIJING IS WILLING TO WORK WITH WASHINGTON.

             // DALEY ACT //

  I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE ALL CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT A DEAL 
CAN BE DONE.  BUT AS WITH ANY GOOD NEGOTIATIONS, SOMETIMES THE 
MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES ARE LEFT TILL THE VERY END.

             // END ACT //

MR. DALEY NOTES THERE WAS SPECULATION THAT CHINA WAS ON THE VERGE
OF COMPLETING A W-T-O DEAL PRIOR TO THE LAST TWO SUMMIT MEETINGS 
BETWEEN PRESIDENT CLINTON AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN. 

THE U-S COMMERCE SECRETARY SAYS IF THE DEAL IS RIGHT, THE U-S 
ADMINISTRATION WILL MOVE FORWARD.  BUT HE REPEATED SKEPTICISM 
THAT AN AGREEMENT WOULD BE REACHED BEFORE CHINESE PREMIER ZHU 
GOES TO THE UNITED STATES NEXT WEEK.

         // DALEY ACT //

  I DON'T NECESSARILY BELIEVE, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, THAT PEOPLE 
SHOULD LOOK AT THIS SUMMIT AS THE SORT OF LAST BITE OF THE APPLE 
HERE ON MAKING SURE THAT CHINA GETS IN TO W-T-O ON THE RIGHT 
TERMS.

          // END ACT //

HE REFUSED TO DETAIL WHICH ISSUES REMAIN, BUT SAID U-S TRADE 
REPRESENTATIVE BARSHEFSKY WILL HOLD INTENSE W-T-O NEGOTIATIONS 
WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS IN THE COMING DAYS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/HO/FC

29-Mar-99 6:25 AM EST (1125 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.