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Case Number: 2010-1024-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the Clinton Presidential
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Folder Title:
China (April 1999, Zhu Bilateral) [13]
Staff Office-Individual:
National Economic Council-Lee, Malcolm
Original OA/ID Number:
CF 1176
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Shelf:
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Withdrawal/Redaction Sheet
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. draft
Memorandum for Gene Sperling, Lael Brainard, Jim Steinberg, and
04/10/1999
P1/b(1)
Ken Lieberthal from Malcolm Lee. Subject: Proposed Points. (1 page)
002. draft
Duplicate of 001. (1 page)
04/10/1999
P1/b(1)
003. draft
Briefing Memo for Telephone Call with Jiang Zemin. (2 pages)
05/13/1999
P1/b(1)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Economic Council
Malcolm Lee
OA/Box Number: CF 1176
FOLDER TITLE:
China (April 1999, Zhu Bilateral) [13]
2010-1024-F
vz1833
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information |(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office |(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy |(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA|
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions |(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells |(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
BUSINESS COALITION
FOR U.S.-CHINA TRADE
April 9, 1999
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S.-CHINA MARKET ACCESS AGREEMENT
We welcome Ambassador Barshefsky's announcement that U.S. and Chinese negotiators have made
substantial progress toward completing the terms for China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
The comprehensive agreement on agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers, industrial products,
tariffs, and services promises to dramatically open China's markets to American products and create new
high-wage jobs for American workers. America's markets are already open. This agreement would level
the playing field.
The market access agreement represents a huge breakthrough for American business, farmers, and
workers. We urge both governments to redouble their efforts to wrap up a WTO agreement as soon as
possible by resolving the handful of key outstanding issues in a way that expands market access. It is
urgent that both governments, and the WTO Working Party, sustain the momentum achieved in recent
weeks.
The U.S.-China agriculture and market access package advances a long-standing American goal of
bringing China under global trading rules. We are pleased that U.S. negotiators have secured
comprehensive commitments to open further the world's biggest emerging market to exports of American
goods, services, and farm products. We look forward to a full briefing by USTR. U.S. business and
agriculture need to study the final written language before making a final assessment.
These negotiations have taken over a decade because American trade negotiators have insisted
throughout on a commercial, not political, deal. The WTO is the foundation of an open, rules-based global
trading system. WTO Membership has always been a privilege, not a right. We are pleased the
agreement shows that China is prepared to undertake the far-reaching commitments required for WTO
Membership.
China, as a trading partner that plays by the rules, is in America's national interest. The WTO's dispute
settlement mechanism, backed up by the threat of WTO-authorized sanctions for non-compliance,
provides an effective tool to enforce U.S. rights.
Integrating China into the global trading system will further strengthen the economic forces that already
have an impact on Chinese society in ways that contribute to greater freedom for its citizens a goal
shared by all Americans.
Concerns have been expressed about alleged illegal transfers of U.S. technology. These issues are
important to all Americans, but must be addressed in the proper forums under existing U.S. laws, not by
blocking a WTO deal.
American business and agriculture look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with the Administration
and Congressional leadership to wrap up an historic agreement on the terms for China's entry into the
WTO. We are committed to building a bipartisan consensus in Congress to extend permanent "NTR"
status under U.S. trade law in order to bring this agreement into force.
The Business Coalition for U.S.-China Trade consists of over 1,200 U.S. companies, trade associations,
and farm organizations which support NTR, expansion of U.S.-China trade, and Chinese membership in
the WTO under commercially-acceptable terms that benefit American exports and jobs.
1211 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 801, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.659.5147 Fax: (202) 659-1347
04/10/99 SAT 09:37 FAX 202 395 3911
U.S.T.R
001
ATTN:
Malcolma
Talking Points on China Issues
April 10, 1999
Q: Why was the SPS signing held-up?
A: There were some remaining issues to be discussed with respect to our market access
commitments to ensure that the United States and China had a common understanding. These
issues did not relate to the Agricultural Agreement. [The Agreement that was signed by Minister
Sher and Amb. Barshefsky this morning is the Agreement that was negotiated earlier in the
week, and it will immediately open China's market for U.S. meat and poultry, wheat and other
grains, and citrus producers.]
Q: Does the SPS agreement stand on its own or does it depend on successful negotiation of
China's WTO accession?
A: The Agriculture Agreement (SPS Agreement) is a stand alone agreement that is effective
immediately.
Q: Mr. Zhu said there were a number of unresolved issues related to trade agreements that
have been announced?
A: During the Premier's visit, there were a number of meetings to discuss a wide spectrum of
issues in some detail. The Premier's comments on Friday night obviously raised substantial
concerns. Trade Ministers worked through the night to explore areas where we had remaining
differences. We are pleased that the President and the Premier today reaffirmed the consensus
that we have reached on a broad range of market access and Protocol issues.
Q: Aren't there still remaining issues to be resolved?
A: Yes. We have been very clear since Thursday, that while we have reached market access
agreements in goods and agricultural trade, there are remaining issues in services and the
application of international trading rules with China which must still be negotiated.
Q: Has China signed anything beyond the SPS agreements?
A: We have formally locked-in the full spectrum of commitments announced on Thursday.
Q: Will details of agreements/schedules be released to the public?
The information contained in the schedules (and referenced in the Joint Statement) were
summarized in the fact sheet attached to the Joint Statement. That fact sheet covered market
access commitments and the Protcol commitments. The SPS agreement will be released pending
confirmation of the Chinese text. No further details will he released at twitime.
Q: China has publicly disputed U.S. claims as to whether any commitments have been
"locked-in"?
A: There were a number of areas that needed further exploration to ensure that we had a common
understanding. We believe our efforts yesterday reconfirmed our areas of agreement reflected in
the President and Premier's Joint Statement.
04/10/99 SAT 09:37 FAX 202 395 3911
U.S.T.R
002
Q: Does this new communique replace Thursday's Joint Statement?
A: No. Today's statement acknowledges the signing of the Agricultural Agreement, and
reaffirms all the commitments made during negotiations to date.
Q: Don't the Premier's comments suggest that all these agreements are in trouble?
A: Not at all. The negotiation of China's WTO Accession is as complex and multi-faceted as
any trade negotiations that the United States has ever been involved in. Because of the size of
China's economy, the heavy presence of State Industries, and China's discriminatory trade
practices a wide spectrum of detailed market access requirements and special rules are necessary.
We have now achieved a common understanding of the commitments that have been locked-in to
date.
Q: Don't recent developments suggest you cannot trust the Chinese to keep their
commitments?
A: No. We are involved in complex negotiations affecting virtually every area of the Chinese
economy. These negotiations are aimed at opening China's markets, expanding the rule of law,
and applying a wide spectrum of international trade rules to China. In fact, the agreements we
have reached to date build a very strong foundation from which we expect to resolve our
remaining differences in areas of services trade and rules.
Q: The Chinese have asserted that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed?
A: Just to be clear: We do have an agreement on agricultural trade issues that will immediately
open China's market for U.S. wheat, meat and poultry, and citrus. With respect to on-going
WTO negotiations, our own formulation is that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed"
because we will not agree to China's accession until the full spectrum of our commercial
concerns - both with respect to market access and trading rules -- have been met.
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
001. draft
Memorandum for Gene Sperling, Lael Brainard, Jim Steinberg, and
04/10/1999
P1/b(1)
Ken Lieberthal from Malcolm Lee. Subject: Proposed Points. (1 page)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Economic Council
Malcolm Lee
OA/Box Number: CF 1176
FOLDER TITLE:
China (April 1999, Zhu Bilateral) [13]
2010-1024-F
vz1833
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA|
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRA|
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
002. draft
Duplicate of 001. (1 page)
04/10/1999
P1/b(1)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Economic Council
Malcolm Lee
OA/Box Number: CF 1176
FOLDER TITLE:
China (April 1999, Zhu Bilateral) [13]
2010-1024-F
vz1833
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - |44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - 15 U.S.C. 552(b)]
PI National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information |(b)(1) of the FOIA)
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRA]
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRAJ
an agency [(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute |(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information |(a)(4) of the PRA]
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy [(a)(6) of the PRA|
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA)
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA|
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells ((b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.
TIME SENSITIVE
UNCLASSIFIED FAX
FROM THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
SENDER:
MALCOLM LEE, INTERNATIONAL GROUP
WH PHONE:
202-456-9299
WH FAX:
202-456-9290
y PAGES INCLUDING COVER SHEET
SUBJECT: PRESS GUIDANCE : CHINA WTO
TO:
FAX:
PHONE:
GENE SPERLING
456-2878
SANDY BERGER
456-9490
JOHN PODESTA
456-2883
DAUC LEAUN
69270
JAKE SIE WART
L-2673
UNCLASSIFIED FAX
UNCLASSIFIED FAX
FROM THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
OF THE WHITE HOUSE
SENDER:
MALCOLM LEE, INTERNATIONAL GROUP
WH PHONE:
202-456-9299
55 PAGES INCLUDING COVER SHEET
WH FAX:
202-456-9290
SUBJECT: CHINA WTO
TO:
FAX:
PHONE:
MILEFROMAN
483-3760
MEG LUNDSAGER 703 684 0225
UNCLASSIFIED FAX
0
001
04/09/99 FRI 16:19 FAX
L187-6224
STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
April 9, 1999
On the occasion of the signing of the Sino-U.S. Agriculture Cooperation Agreement, President
William Jefferson Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji reaffirmed that the United States and the
People's Republic of China have advanced substantially their common goal of China's admission
to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This Agreement and the significant agreements [Consersus]
Genfortha
achieved on a broad range of market access and Protocol issues as set out in the Joint Statement
of April 8)advancethat goal) President Clinton and Premier Zhu welcome this significant
progress. The United States strongly supports the accession of the People's Republic of China to
the WTO in 1999 To that end President Clinton and Premier Zhu instruct their trade ministers
to resume bilateral negostiations in order to satisfactorily resolve the important remaining issues
and reach agreement on strong commercial terms as soon as possible.
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now
JOINT STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
April 10, 1999
On the occasion of the signing of the Agreement on U.S. China Agricultural
Cooperation, President William Jefferson Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji reaffirmed
that the United States and the People's Republic of China have advanced substantially
their common goal of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This
Agreement and the significant consensus achieved on a broad range of market access
and Protocol issues have further advanced that goal. Present Clinton and Premier Zhu
welcome this significant progress. The United States strongly supports the accession
of the People's Republic of China to the WTO in 1999. Therefore, President Clinton
and Premier Zhu instruct their trade ministers to continue bilateral negotiations in
order to satisfactorily resolve the important remaining issues and reach agreement on
strong commercial terms as soon as possible.
- **
E. *1 ,
TO)
-
1999 101 WTO. the
1 ,
NOT FOR RELEASE
April , 1999
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Our two governments have engaged in a series of intensive bilateral negotiations regarding
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a result of those negotiations,
our governments have reached agreements on a wide range of market access commitments,
including schedules for market access for industrial and agricultural goods and most services
commitments, which are subject to verification and rectification. (Attachment 1.) Certain
matters remain to be discussed in banking, including consumer auto finance, securities, audio
visual services, and textiles and apparel.
Second, we have reached agreement on several texts that set out commitments that China will
undertake in its WTO Protocol or Working Party Report. We have also reached agreement on
several other Protocol commitments, subject to resolution of the issue of duration of provisions
governing dumping and product safeguards. (Attachment 2.)
To maintain the momentum in these negotiations, we will review and verify the schedules and
Protocols agreed during the negotiations. Further, negotiators will work to resolve outstanding
issues identified above and continue work on other aspects of China's WTO accession package.
Both parties agree that this Memorandum of Understanding and attached documents will not be
released to the public.
Long Yong Tu
Ambassador Peter Scher
Vice Minister
Special Trade Negotiator
Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation
Attachments
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
April 8, 1999
PRESS BRIEFING BY
NATIONAL ECONOMIC ADVISOR GENE SPERLING,
U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY,
The Briefing Room
5:50 P.M. EDT
MR. SIEWERT: We're going to have a short readout on the
status of the negotiations on China's accession to the WTO.
Giving the briefing will be National Economic Council Director
Gene Sperling, and US Trade Representative, Ambassador Charlene
Barshefsky. And answering questions will be Deputy National
Economic Advisor Lael Brainard and Assistant Trade
Representative Bob Cassidy.
MR. SPERLING: We are pleased by the significant progress
made in our economic relationship with China in a broad array of
areas from civil aviation to software protection to the SPS --
issues -- PCK wheat, citrus and meat, as well as CDMA wireless
technology.
We're particularly pleased by the significant progress that
was made towards reaching a tough-minded, commercially viable
WTO agreement with China. Thanks to the excellent work of our
Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, and the extensive personal
involvement of Premier Zhu, significant movement and concessions
were made in a wide array of areas, beyond what could have been
expected and concerning many issues that had been unresolved for
many years.
Although we did not reach the finish line, as the joint
statement states, agreement has been reached on market access
for agriculture and goods, as well as a wide array of service
areas. There also was progress on key protocol issues, such as
trading rights, forced technology transfer and offsets, subsidy
and other issues that Charlene will go into in greater detail.
2
Clearly, there were issues in market access and banking,
including consumer auto financing, securities, audio-visual and
textiles that are not resolved. Under protocol, such areas --
important areas in our country concerning anti-dumping, surge
safeguards and means to ensure implementation.
Last night, the President met for over two and a half hours
with Premier Zhu in the Yellow Oval Room in the residence, from
9:00 p.m. or so to nearly midnight. At that meeting, both
leaders felt that while too many issues remained to be resolved
by this trip, that the strong progress and agreements that had
been made meant that the best way to proceed was to sign the SPS
agreement and to have a joint statement that locked in the
agreements and progress that had been made in the significant
market access areas, to list very clearly what some of the
remaining differences were, and to commit to redouble our
efforts to resolve the remaining differences in the near future
so that we can have a commercially viable agreement that could
lead to WTO accession for China in this year.
As we approach this, we clearly were in search of agreement
on all the issues we had. On one hand, we did not want to in
any way lower the bar on any critical issues in order to reach
agreement, just to reach agreement by this visit. On the other
hand, we did not want to lose any of the significant progress
and commitments that Charlene Barshefsky and Premier Zhu had
worked out.
This agreement very well -- today, this joint statement
today shows that we were able to come out in a very positive
place, because on one hand we kept open the issues that we still
felt we needed to get more progress on, and at the same time
were able to lock in the very significant agreements that had
been made.
With that, I wanted to also express from the economic team
the tremendous work that Charlene's entire team has done, most
especially Bob Cassidy; also Peter Scher in agriculture issues;
and Richard Fisher, Bob Novak and others. But Charlene has
thrown herself into this, as she does with everything. And with
that, I will give you our Ambassador.
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: Thanks, Gene. Let me just start
also by paying a very special tribute to my lead negotiator, Bob
Cassidy, who heads our China shop, the Assistant USTR for China,
who has basically lived in Beijing for about two years now, I
3
think; and the rest of his team -- Christina Lund, Catherine
Field, Laura Lane, Teresa Howes, of course, Ambassador Peter
Scher, Ambassador Richard Fisher, and many other people in many
other agencies, including Secretary Glickman at USDA.
Let me just start for a minute just by talking a little bit
about what a WTO accession entails, so that you know exactly
where the market access commitments that we have now embodied
will fit. WTO accession requires two very large pieces, and
they are interlocking. One piece is market access -- goods,
services and agriculture across the board. That piece is
negotiated by China with each one of its major trading partners
individually. And each trading partner receives the best
treatment any of those trading partners receives on that
particular issue.
So for the duration of a WTO accession negotiation, the
market access issues remain open on the up side, but a floor is
established based on your particular market access agreement.
The second big piece is rules, and the rules are not
ancillary to market access, the rules are what makes the market
access agreement work. For example, if you have an agreement on
tariffs, but no rules on how customs is to administer its tariff
regime, you have no net gain in market access. So without the
rules, of which there are hundreds, literally, the market access
again, which might look good on paper, aren't actually
achievable in practice.
Both of these enormous pieces -- the market access, which
first is negotiated bilaterally with every country, and then
there's a multilateral process where everyone goes up -- and the
rules, which is negotiated in part bilaterally, as you'll see in
a minute, and multilaterally -- all of that has to be done
before any country is considered to be a full candidate for
accession. All of it has to be done. And we have been
particularly insistent that every bit of it is done, every bit,
before China can be considered a candidate for full WTO
accession.
Now, that's the backdrop of what has to be accomplished.
What we have achieved, as the joint statement by the President
and the Premier says, is that we have reached agreement on
market access for agricultural and industrial goods, as well as
a wide range of services sectors; that certain matters remain to
be resolved in banking, including consumer finance for autos, as
Gene said, securities and audio-visual services.
4
As to protocol issues, we, the United States, have pursued
five or six very critical protocol issues that are unique to
China -- unique to China. This is quite apart from hundreds of
protocol issues yet to be negotiated, or which are only partly
negotiated in Geneva.
And with respect to these special protocol issues, the
President and the Premier note in their joint statement that
agreement has been reached on a variety of these important rules
to be applicable in the WTO concerning, for example, trading
rights, technology transfer, offsets, state enterprise
practices, subsidies, anti-dumping. But even in these critical
protocol issues, where we have agreed language, we do not -- in
several -- yet have agreement on their duration, nor do we have
full agreement yet on the mode of implementation of China's full
range of commitments. Nor do we have full agreement yet on the
way in which our bilateral textiles agreement must be
incorporated into the WTO.
So what we have done, as Gene has said, we have captured
and memorialized -- in agreement language -- what has been
achieved. And you'll note from the joint statement, there are
to be three attachments. One of them, on market access, is the
actual legal schedule of commitments -- very specific, point by
point, sector by sector, year by year, phase-in by phase-in.
There is nothing left to the imagination. That, minus the
issues still to be resolved.
And on protocol, the specific language will be available
also, tomorrow. But again, there are unresolved issues there,
particularly on the question of duration in connection with some
of these special protocol issues, with respect to China. All of
that is now locked in place, as I said, in agreement language,
and agreed by the parties.
Now, the process from here on out will involve a number of
months of absolutely intense negotiation. Number one, to finish
market access issues bilaterally. Number two, to work with each
of our major trading partners -- which are also negotiating
market access with China -- to ensure that none of our rights
are prejudiced in any respect. This is a very complicated
process. Number three, resolving the outstanding special China
protocol issues. Number four, resolving the full range of rules
issues yet to be resolved in Geneva. This is months more of
negotiation. The goal remains, as the President and the
5
Premier's statement, that China be in a position to enter the
WTO by the end of this year.
But I've said many times, and I will say again:
ultimately, whether China enters is up to China. Our standards
are high. Our expectations are high. The agreement we have
reached thus far, I think without question, demonstrates that
and I'll take you through some of the highlights. The rules
issues remain equally critical. So we have quite a ways to go,
but we are very, very pleased, extremely so, by what we have now
accomplished in agreement form in the areas that I will outline.
And let me then just move very quickly to the market access
commitments that have been achieved thus far, and just mention
four features, broadly.
First of all, what has been achieved thus far is quite
comprehensive. Not fully yet, but quite comprehensive. It
covers all of agriculture, industrial goods and services.
Market access covers unfair trade practices, including quotas,
other non-tariff measures, the application of nonscientific
agricultural standards, discriminatory regulatory processes,
export subsidies and other barriers to trade. It covers the
tariffs and other barriers China applies at the border. It
eliminates the limits China places on trading rights and
distribution within their market. It eliminates unjustified
agricultural barriers and it addresses the limits on the rights
of service providers to set up businesses in China.
Second, the market access commitments grant no special
favors. For example, it requires China to reduce its trade
barriers to levels comparable to those of major trade partners,
including many industrial countries. There are no special or
developing country deals in this agreement -- none. For
example, China's industrial tariffs will fall to an overall
average of 9.5 percent and in the U.S. priority areas, which are
thousands of products, an average of 7.1 percent. This is
substantially below the rates of virtually every developing
country and are quite comparable to rates in major
industrialized trade partners, like Australia and New Zealand.
Third, the market access commitments that have thus far
been made will be fully enforceable. All of the commitments are
absolutely specific, measurable. The are enforceable not just
through our own trade laws, but WTO dispute settlement and other
special mechanisms, including some of the protocol issues that I
will address, and fourth, I think the results you will see will
be very rapid.
6
On accession in every area without exception, China would
open its markets -- begin to open its markets from day one. The
phase-in of further broad concessions in these areas is with
very few exceptions limited to a maximum of five years, and
almost in all cases -- in many cases, the total transition time
ranges from one to three years. This is very, very fast
relative to the accessions we have been doing in this
administration, let alone relative to earlier accessions.
Just a few quick-hit facts, and then you can ask questions.
In agriculture, as you know, China will completely eliminate its
bans on U.S. agricultural products. China's agricultural
tariffs will decline to about 14.5 percent; the global average
is near 40 percent. All tariff cuts will occur within a maximum
four-year time frame. And every tariff cut is bound, which
means China cannot raise the tariffs. That's very important; no
developing countries have totally bound tariffs, China will.
China will, in addition, liberalize significantly its
purchase of bulk agricultural commodities. These are the big
ticket items -- wheat, corn, cotton, soybeans, so on and so
forth. We have set up a tariff quota, a tariff rate quota
system under which tariffs on very, very huge volumes of
agricultural products will be between one and three percent,
meaning China will buy essentially at world market prices. This
opens tremendous, tremendous opportunities for us.
And on export subsidies, China will no longer provide any
export subsidies. This is very significant for things like
cotton and rice, but also because that means China can join us
in any launch of the new round if they're a member in a
prohibition globally on export subsidies. This is vital,
particularly in regards to the European Union.
On industrial goods, China will grant essentially full
trading rights and distribution, the right to import and export
directly without Chinese middlemen and to market through
distribution wholesale, retail -- you know, after-sale service,
repair, maintenance, transport, the entire range. There is no
distribution-related service that is excluded. Most of these
barriers will be gone within three years.
On tariff cuts, China will cut their tariffs on U.S.-
priority items, which is thousands of items, to an average of
7.1 percent, as I said. Two-thirds of all the cuts will occur
within two years, within the first two years. The rest no
7
longer than five. China will also do the information technology
agreement, that's zero for zero tariffs. They will do it
rapidly enough so they are on par with the other countries to
it, meaning most of the phaseouts China will do will occur by
2003.
Autos, wood, paper, chemicals -- there's massive tariff
reductions, and I won't go through them. And on non-tariff
barriers, China will eliminate all quotas and all quantitative
measures. In priority U.S. areas, it will be immediate upon
accession in everything else we care about within two years, and
other things we don't care about within five years.
And last, on services, banking and securities remain under
discussion, though even there we've made quite significant
progress on the banking side. But consumer financing for auto
purchases is important because we've put together I think a very
strong auto vehicle package. And consumer financing for auto
purchases needs to be resolved favorably. I think it will be,
but we're not quite there yet.
With respect to securities, China has offered a grandfather
of existing rights. I think that the Treasury Department wants
to have further discussion with China on the issue of
securities, which is, as you know, a very complicated area,
particularly in China.
Let me just do one service sector as an example of the
specificity, and you can read your fact sheets for the rest.
Let me take insurance. Immediately on accession, insurance
companies can offer large-scale risk insurance throughout China.
Also immediately, China will grant insurance licenses only on
prudential factors. Within three years, China will phase out
all restrictions on internal branching, and it will remove
restrictions on majority control and on joint ventures. Within
four years, foreign companies can offer group insurance, which
is 75 percent of all insurance sold in China, and within five
years, health and pension lines of insurance.
This is an absolutely all-inclusive agreement. I use it as
an example because it goes year by year, commitment by
commitment, phase-in by phase-in -- very highly particularized.
Telecom -- the other sectors are quite similar. Let me
just say on telecom, I'm very pleased that for the first time
China will allow direct investment in all telecom facilities,
8
and foreign ownership with respect to value-added services and
paging.
Last, let me just touch on protocol issues. Some are
completed, but some need more work, particularly on the question
of duration. First, specific protocol language on a product-
specific safeguard, so that if there are surges of imports from
China, they can be addressed in a China-specific manner.
Second, agreement on continued U.S. use of its non-market
economy dumping laws -- these are special rules that will apply
in dumping cases.
Third, agreement on investment issues in China. China must
eliminate requirements that companies export what they make in
China, or use Chinese parts or other products when they
manufacture there. Our companies also will no longer have to
agree to offsets to invest in China, or such other requirements.
Fourth, specific protocol language committing China to end
all requirements for technology transfer for U.S. companies to
invest in China. This is a very unique feature. Fifth, the
protocol addresses issues of special concern due to the nature
of the Chinese economy. State trading companies and state-
invested enterprises must operate solely on commercial terms,
and these companies' purchases will not be considered to be
government procurement -- so they must be governed by the full
rules of trade negotiated, not by any special rules or altered
regime.
The question of duration on a few of the trade remedies
remains open. Many protocol issues remain open, but that's
basically where we are. I think you all have a detailed fact
sheet. The protocol language and additional materials will be
available tomorrow, either from the White House or from USTR.
I
It sounds like they do a lot of giving. What are they
going to get from this?
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: Well, first of all, I think we have
said for six years that the only basis on which China will enter
the WTO is on strict commercial terms. No special deal; no
sweetheart deal; and no political deal. And without question,
what we have achieved thus far is, I think, a remarkably strong
commercial package by any conceivable measure.
9
And that's the way it has to be. And that's the way it has
to continue to be if China is going to enter this year. This is
absolutely critical. There is no compromising on that position.
I think what China has gained, in large part, is something
that Premier Zhu spoke of in his press conference with the
President, and that is, he is anxious for very substantial
reform of the Chinese economy, and to move it much more toward
the direction of market economics. And his view is that WTO
accession helps to accelerate that process in China.
I think also, the Chinese are concerned that foreign
enterprises are losing confidence in the Chinese market, because
the rules are opaque and arbitrary. And this again, I think,
helps solidify China as a country in which businesses should
want to do business.
Q
Premier Zhu said in his response to one of the
questions that he felt that politics had played a part in the
administration's thinking on this. Imagine a stack of bibles in
front of you that you're going to put your hand on, figuratively
speaking. Are you going to tell us that no one in the
administration at any kind of senior level whatsoever felt that
the disagreement was good enough, ought to be taken as fully
adequate for proceeding toward the subsequent stages of China's
accession?
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: Well, I think all of us in the
administration do believe that what we have here is quite
substantial and extraordinary. And that's why this is all
memorialized now in specific agreement language, and why we're
announcing it and why there's a joint statement. But many of us
-- and I put myself in this camp -- feel that the kind of
methodical approach we've taken for six years was not going to
be altered because of the visit. The audiovisual commitments
are not sufficient. That is simply a fact.
Auto financing is a critical issue, as well as certain
banking reform phase-ins. That's a fact. The securities issues
are something that Treasury and China I think will spend most of
the year working on. The view is, we have agreement, as the
President and Zhu have said, on everything that -- you know,
I've outlined, embodied in agreement language. That's an
agreement.
But every step has to be done the right way. This is a
massive accession. There never has been anything like it and
10
there never will be, simply based on sheer size, importance, and
the complexity of the trade barriers involved. I feel very
strongly, and I feel very responsible as the USTR that every
detail we can nail down, every t, every I, has got to be done
the right way.
So I feel what we've done here is to lock in a very, very
strong set of agreements on protocol and on market access, but
to make clear that there are issues that yet have to be resolved
to satisfy us fully -- fully now, on market access, and then the
other protocol issues in Geneva we just didn't even address
right now.
Q
How about the stack of bibles?
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: Gene?
MR. SPERLING: The first thing I would say and I think that
Charlene's is saying is that what you saw today is completely
transparent. It doesn't leave a kind of vague statement. It
tells you exactly what it is we thought was good enough to agree
to, and it tells you exactly what it is we thought had not
reached the bar yet. So you can judge for yourself -- and I
think one of the things that we decided to do was to try to lock
in the progress we had, but to be open about where we hadn't
reached agreement yet.
Certainly, on any major issue we've ever had in this
administration where you have more than three people around the
table, there are often slight differences on tactics or on
certain issues or issues of emphasis, and we had discussions
internally that went on. And we did recognize that one of the
issues, one of the tensions was that in some ways, it might be
good to press hard, as hard as we could for the trip, which we
did, but that we didn't want to do that at the expense of
lowering our standards just for the trip.
We also recognized, though, that there was some danger that
in not getting any agreement by the trip, you could lose some of
the progress that you had made, you could let some of that slip.
So the reason why I think our administration is so particularly
unified and happy with where we are right now is that we were
able to come up with something where we were able to memorialize
or lock in all of the progress, and yet, state very explicitly
where we still thought there was further to go and to redouble
our commitment to going forward. I can assure you that when we
did send the NEC-NSC memo to the President, which listed every
11
single person's views, there was not a single person who did not
believe we should go forward with a commercially viable China
deal -- not one single -- on a stack of bibles.
I
Charlene, do you think that this agreement is strong
enough to change some attitudes in Congress, and are you
planning to go forward with a request to grant permanent MFN
upon accession, or are you going to wait until the deal is
completed?
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: I think in answer to the first
question, I think the deal is a very strong one, and I think
that members of Congress will obviously have to judge whether
they're comfortable with it, whether their constituents'
concerns have been adequately addressed, and I'm sure we'll hear
from many, many people.
But as you will see from the summary and from the actual
documents themselves, which are voluminous and remarkably
detailed, we believe this agreement will withstand the most
critical scrutiny imaginable, and we've done it in such a way
because we believe it will have to withstand extraordinary
scrutiny and potentially some skepticism.
With respect to permanent MFN, we're still in the middle of
a negotiation. And it is, I think, at this juncture premature.
We obviously will consult with Congress, the President will
consult with Congress as well; but right now, we don't have an
accession package; we're certainly months away, I mean many
months, four, five, six months away from an accession package.
And so I think that this question of timing on permanent MFN
will have to be looked at pretty carefully.
Q
Given that the administration -- your office is very
careful not to release any text or any documents before a final
deal is signed and the whole thing is sewn down, is there a
strategy here to release this much detail of this document in
order to get the business community to start lobbying in advance
to soften up the --
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: No, this is about the same level of
detail as we released in the Taiwan Agreement. We released a
very detailed fact sheet, very specific numbers on agriculture,
goods, the market access. We were very, very specific --
specific about phase-outs and so on. No, no, no. But we've
done the same -- we just did the Latvian accession. If you look
back, we released very substantial detail. Taiwan's detail was
12
released a year ago; they're not in the WTO yet, their protocol
isn't even finished.
So we release it as we do it. The level of detail here in
part reflects how much there was to do. I mean, China, which
was the furthest behind of all the countries in the WTO, the
furthest behind -- exponentially so -- with the longest way to
go, acceding to levels at a Uruguay Round-plus level. The level
of detail required to accomplish that is enormous, and that's
one reason for the length.
We haven't had, for example, trading rights problems with
other countries. The basic right to import or export. There
are many, many practices in China we've never had to deal with
before. And that's one reason you see the level of detail here.
China's economy, as you know, is highly protected. We've been
saying this for a number of years, the trade figures show it,
particularly on the export side from the U.S. So there is much
to address.
But we have consistently -- look back at the Taiwan press
releases from a year ago, you'll see the same level of detail.
Q
That's when you reach the agreement.
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: Yes, well, here, we're close.
That's what we're saying, we're close. I don't see any gap
right now that's not bridgeable. But we're not quite there yet.
I
Two questions, actually. If you were to look at the
agreement now as it is without any further conditions and
imagine China at the end of the five-year phase-out, how would
China, as a country to do business with, compare with other
nations the U.S. does business with? Would it be similar to
Japan, would it be better than Japan? And the second question
is, it's true you memorialized all this stuff and you have their
commitments.
But in China, as you know better than me, a lot depends on
individual personalities and the reformers pushing things. Why
not have agreed that you had a deal and you had details left to
do? Why take the risk of undermining Zhu when he goes home?
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: As to the fact, the question that's
exactly what we did, which is why the joint statement between
Zhu and President Clinton says explicitly that there is
agreement on market access in agriculture and industrial goods
13
and on the wide array of services sectors, but with discussions
continuing on. We've not left open this agreement; we've
indicated where discussions were continuing, and the joint
statement makes very clear -- the language couldn't be clearer
-- that we have reached agreement on the remainder with respect
to market access. Similarly the language is very, very clear on
protocol.
And Zhu was very, very comfortable with this formulation.
That is to say, he is comfortable with the formulation, which we
always use, which is nothing's agreed until everything's agreed.
But you have to know where your baseline is, and we now know --
almost entirely across the board, on the market access issues,
but for the ones that are still under discussion -- where our
baseline is, and the baseline is very, very high.
So we've done exactly what you've suggested. He was very,
very comfortable. The joint statement took -- what? -- a half
an hour to negotiate, which has to be a record. It was what
they had envisioned, because it spells out that agreement has
been reached in the areas in which agreement genuinely has been
reached.
I think that your first question is a difficult one, in the
sense that it's hard to make predictions of the kind you're
suggesting. But let me just give you one example, and maybe
five years from now we'll see that it might be right.
If you look at most of the trade disputes that we've had
with Japan: semiconductors, autos, auto parts, flat glass. All
of these issues are distribution issues. Every one of them.
The problem has been distribution. When we set up the auto
agreement in Japan, what did we actually do? We set up an
alternative channel of distribution for auto parts, because we
couldn't get in the garages controlled by the Japanese auto
companies. So we just went around and set up a different
distribution channel. Flat glass, the problem is you have a
cartel which also controls the distribution channel, and no
means to open an alternative distribution channel.
One of the reasons we have spent months and -- I mean, Bob
knows this better than me and months and months on
distribution -- and one of the reasons that audio-visual is
still outstanding -- is that distribution is critical, critical.
Without it, what you export doesn't actually penetrate the
market to any significant degree. Without it, what you produce
in China has to go through middlemen siphoning off your profit.
14
Without it, the market access you thought you'd gained from
tariff reductions disappears, in a flash.
Now on audio-visual, we're not entirely satisfied with the
distribution arrangement thus far. So I would say, five years
from now -- five years from now, or three years from now, in
terms of distribution in China, if that distribution opens up,
the difference will be quite remarkable. And I think we'll
avoid some of the problems that have plagued us persistently in
industrial sectors in Japan, where we never had this range of
rights.
I
How concerned are you that you have too many very
divisive trade issues, now, that you're pushing for on the Hill?
I mean, you have the steel import question, there's this,
there's fast-track -- supposedly -- CBI, African free trade
bill. Are some of these going to have to get lopped off this
year? These are all divisive issues.
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: I think, from our point of view, we
want to pursue -- as you know -- as aggressive a trade agenda as
possible. And all of the issues that you've mentioned are
important without question. And certainly without question, we
cannot look at China and deem it anything other than remarkably
important as well.
So all I'll say is that we are going to pursue the full
range of issues. On China in particular, we will consult
closely with Congress, that's going to take a lot of time. But
we feel pretty comfortable where we are right now.
I
On the agricultural issues -- on the agricultural
issues, am I to understand that that deal was not cut for them
to be lifted immediately until last night in the residence with
the President? When was the decision that that was actually --
the ban, for example, on --
AMBASSADOR BARSHEFSKY: The bans will be removed this year
on Pacific Northwest wheat, citrus, and all the meat products --
beef, poultry, pork. And we're very pleased about that, because
we now have an established set of rules which will absolutely
allow entry for all those products. Citrus and pork have
typically been smuggled into China. Massive citrus goes into
Hong Kong, but Hong Kongers can't each eat 50 oranges a day.
It's going somewhere else, and it's going into China through
smuggling.
15
And I think one of the persuasive arguments that we had
with the Chinese to lift these bans is that when you allow
smuggling -- when you have a trade regime so restrictive that a
black market appears, you will have (a) increased corruption --
and this is a principal issue for Zhu -- and (b) you lose all
the tax revenue because no one is paying duties on any of it
that's coming in. It's all coming in under the table.
If you lower your tariffs, you agree to rules on the
administration of your customs regime, and you drop your bans,
you find not only that you have more goods at lower prices for
Chinese consumers, you have more money in your internal revenue
collection than you had before.
Thank you.
END
6:31 P.M. EDT
No Attainments
April 9, 1999
Mou
RECORD OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE STATUS OF CHINA-U.S. BILATERAL
NEGOTIATIONS ON CHINA'S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Our two governments have engaged in a series of intensive bilateral negotiations regarding
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a result of those negotiations,
our governments have reached agreements on a wide range of market access commitments,
including schedules for market access for industrial and agricultural goods and most services
discussed
commitments, which are subject to verification and rectification. (Attachment 1.) Certain
matters remain to befesolve (in banking, including consumer auto finance, as well as securities
and audio visual services pertile Appual
Second, we have reached agreement on several texts that set out commitments that China will
undertake in its WTO Protocol or Working Party Report. We have also reached agreement on
several other Protocol commitments, subject to resolution of the issue of duration of provisions
governing dumping and product safeguards. (Attachment 2.) [All lugge for f stowl Names
assignment to conficute by chareside ) All protocol (roucers will he hind youthine only upon a cersin
to WTO.
Third, we have agreed to continue to discuss outstanding market access and protocol issues,
(including those relating to textiles and apparel]and providing WTO Members with an effective
means to address implementation issues.
+AGton's
To maintain the momentum in these negotiations, we will review and verify the schedules agreed
during the negotiations, Further, negotiators will work to resolve outstanding issues identified ok
above and to continue work on other aspects of China's WTO accession package Finaleding
Both particiage Net to release a Hachents to public
Long YongTu
Robert B. Cassidy
Vice Minister
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative
Ministry of Foreign Trade and
For China
Economic Cooperation
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April 10, 1999
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FROM: MACCOCM LEE
RE: China WTO
Here are the final Joint statement cembangoeduntil today
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released) on china WTO.
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This morning at 7:00.
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press. obviously, we are low keying WTO
aspects.
JOINT STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
April 10, 1999
On the occasion of the signing of the Agreement on U.S. China Agricultural
Cooperation, President William Jefferson Clinton and Premier Zhu Rongji reaffirmed
that the United States and the People's Republic of China have advanced substantially
their common goal of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This
Agreement and the significant consensus achieved on a broad range of market access
and Protocol issues have further advanced that goal. Present Clinton and Premier Zhu
welcome this significant progress. The United States strongly supports the accession
of the People's Republic of China to the WTO in 1999. Therefore, President Clinton
and Premier Zhu instruct their trade ministers to continue bilateral negotiations in
order to satisfactorily resolve the important remaining issues and reach agreement on
strong commercial terms as soon as possible.
- ***
E. *** ,
(TO)
1 .
1999 101 WTO. th,
1 .
April , 1999
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Our two governments have engaged in a series of intensive bilateral negotiations regarding
China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). As a result of those negotiations,
our governments have reached agreements on a wide range of market access commitments,
including schedules for market access for industrial and agricultural goods and most services
commitments, which are subject to verification and rectification. (Attachment 1.) Certain
matters remain to be discussed in banking, including consumer auto finance, securities, audio
visual services, and textiles and apparel.
Second, we have reached agreement on several texts that set out commitments that China will
undertake in its WTO Protocol or Working Party Report. We have also reached agreement on
several other Protocol commitments, subject to resolution of the issue of duration of provisions
governing dumping and product safeguards. (Attachment 2.)
To maintain the momentum in these negotiations, we will review and verify the schedules and
Protocols agreed during the negotiations. Further, negotiators will work to resolve outstanding
issues identified above and continue work on other aspects of China's WTO accession package.
Both parties agree that this Memorandum of Understanding and attached documents will not be
released to the public.
Long Yong Tu
Ambassador Peter Scher
Vice Minister
Special Trade Negotiator
Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation
Attachments
The Washington Times
TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1999
Another wrestler
Inside Politics
A6
"Clearly inspired by the suc-
cess of Gov. Jesse 'The Body'
Ventura in Minnesota, the Na-
tional Republican Congressional
Committee has enlisted Robert
Backlund, a 49-year-old ex-World
Wrestling Federation champion,
to butt heads with Democratic
Rep. John B. Larson in Con-
necticut," National Journal re-
ports.
"Backlund's running in a
Hartford-area district that's sol-
idly Democratic and counts on
his wrestling credentials to ap-
peal to young voters. Backlund,
who plans a mid-April trip to visit
Compiled by Greg Pierce
his parents in Minnesota, has said
he wants to thank Ventura for
Giuliani - in which the governor
noted.
'opening the door for me.'
said on ABC's "This Week" that
Miss Michelman would not say
"GOP handlers steered the 245
minorities have "a legitimate
how much money the group was
(or so)-pound Backlund away
fear" of violence by city police -
spending on the campaign or how
from his earlier interest in step-
has brought predictions of inter-
often the ads would run.
ping into the ring with a seasoned
necine political warfare.
smasher, Democratic Sen. Chris-
"New York's Republican Party
Gingrich to AEI
topher J. Dodd," the magazine
is on the verge of an explosive
said.
civil war over Mayor Giuliani's
Former House Speaker Newt
likely run for the U.S. Senate next
Gingrich has been appointed as a
Bill Lann Lee's target
year," writes the New York Post's
senior fellow at the American En-
Fredric U. Dicker, who cited
terprise Institute, the conserva-
"As critics, including me, pre-
"worried insiders."
tive think tank announced yester-
dicted, Bill Lann Lee, the thrice-
"The potential combatants in-
day.
nominated, never-confirmed 'act-
clude virtually every top Repub-
Mr. Gingrich will conduct re-
ing' chief of the Justice
lican in the state - Giuliani, Gov.
search and write about domestic
Department's Civil Rights Divi-
Pataki, [ex-Sen.] Al D'Amato,
and security policy issues, begin-
sion, has relentlessly pursued ra-
state GOP boss Bill Powers and
ning with health care, said AEI
cial preferences in his 15 months
Senate Majority Leader Joseph
President Christopher DeMuth.
at the helm. But now he has un-
Bruno." Mr. Dicker said.
AEI spokesman David Wallace
leashed his forces on a new tar-
"The goal of the anti-Giuliani
said that Mr. Gingrich's appoint-
get: charter schools," writes Clint
camp is to damage the mayor in
ment was effective immediately,
Bolick, litigation director of the
next year's primary, even if it
and that he was expected to be at
Institute for Justice.
hands the U.S. Senate seat to first
the institute seven or eight days a
"Wielding school desegregation
lady Hillary Rodham Clinton."
month. There was no word on
decrees that often are many dec-
how much money Mr. Gingrich
ades old, Mr. Lee has launched a
campaign to stop charter schools
Bush, Dole targeted
will be paid, Reuters news agency
reports.
in their tracks. His actions put
A national abortion-rights
Mr. DeMuth said in a state-
him provocatively at odds both
group is running television ads in
ment, "My colleagues and I are
with the goals of desegregation
Iowa and New Hampshire that
delighted that a man of Newt
and the Clinton administration's
accuse two Republican pres-
Gingrich's intellect will be joining
official education policy," Mr.
idential candidates of camouflag-
our ranks."
Bolick said in an opinion piece in
ing their anti-abortion positions.
Mr. Gingrich said in a state-
the Wall Street Journal.
Texas Gov George W. Bush and
ment the focus of his initial re-
"Meanwhile, Mr. Lee's opposite
former American Red Cross
search project "will be to develop
number in the Education Depart-
President Elizabeth Dole are the
an information-age model for
ment's Office for Civil Rights,
targets of the campaign by the
health wellness and health care
Norma Cantu, has been using the
National Abortion and Reproduc-
within the rapidly changing world
federal Individuals with Disabil-
tive Rights Action League, the
of communications, evolving in-
ities Education Act to challenge
Associated Press reports.
formation technologies and bio-
charter schools. Between Mr. Lee
The ads. which begin airing
logical discovery."
and Ms. Cantu, the concept of
this week, use the candidates'
charter schools, predicated upon
own words to show their opposi-
freedom from stifling state and
non to abortion. said NARAL di-
Back to the past
local controls, could perish be-
rector Kate Michelman.
neath the federal regulatory ham-
"George W. Bush opposes a
"It's beginning to look as if
mer. Ironically, such efforts to sti-
woman's right to choose.
George Stephanopoulos bailed out
fle charter schools could drive
Elizabeth Dole opposes a wom-
too soon," the Los Angeles Times'
more education reformers to em-
en's right to choose. But they both
Ron Brownstein writes.
brace vouchers for private
know they must communicate
"Not that he needed a grueling
schools."
more moderate views in order to
year of defending President Clin-
be elected." she said.
ton from Monica revelations and
Civil war
Ironically. both Mr. Bush and
impeachment. But at the end of
Mrs. Dole are under attack by
that harrowing road, Clinton is
New York Gov. George E.
anti-abortion groups that doubt
moving back toward the strategy
cont.
Pataki's most recent swipe at New
their commitment to ending abor-
of deferring to congressional
York City Mayor Rudolph W.
tions, AP reporter Ron Fournier
Democrats that Stephanopoulos
21
INSIDE
always supported - with disas-
trous results," Mr. Brownstein ob-
served.
Hollywood thing
Mr. Stephanopoulos' memoir,
Oscar host Whoopi Goldberg
"All Too Human," is alternately
didn't exactly win rave reviews
engaging and superficial, but ulti-
for her debut as a political satirist
mately offers no insights into
Sunday night at the 71st annual
which of Mr. Clinton's policy and
Academy Awards.
political choices worked and
Miss Goldberg's jokes included
which didn't, Mr. Brownstein
a reference to the Oscars as "the
said.
biggest party in Hollywood. Well,
"Which is too bad, because
the second biggest, if you count
the Democrats."
Clinton is drifting again into the
fundamental mistakes that de-
Among those panning Miss
railed his first two years - when
Goldberg's politicized perform-
he followed the advice of old-line
ance was TV Guide's Matt Roush,
Democrats like Stephanopoulos.
who said on MSNBC: "It wasn't
the best material. And you'd kind
of think on the night that belongs
"Ironically, even as Stephan-
to Hollywood, you could get over
opoulos is rehashing the left's
Washington for a night. It also
case against Clinton, the presi-
smacked of that left-wing, liberal
dent is now reverting to old hab-
Hollywood thing that you'd think.
its. As if Stephanopoulos was still
they would try put a little to the
whispering into his ear, Clinton is
side for the Oscars."
once again worrying more about
mollifying his party than identify-
Greg Pierce can be reached at
ing it with the cause of reform"
on issues such as Social Security
202/636-3285 or by e-mail at
[email protected]
and Medicare.
Victory for automation
"The White House
switchboard, long a holdout in the
annoying drive to automation. has
given in," Paul Bedard writes in
U.S. News & World Report.
" 'You have reached the White
House,' says a recording. The sys-
tem - installed this month - IS
meant to direct the bulk of callers
who want to make a comment to a
recording system. Calls can still
press 3 for a human voice." Mr:
Bedard said.
22
EMERGENCY COMMITTEE FOR AMERICAN TRADE
FASCIMILE TRANSMITTAL
To: MalcolmLee
Fax: 456-9290
Date: a April 'as
From: Cal Cohen
Pages: 2 payes follow
FYI
1211 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 801, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (202)659-5147 Fax: (202) 659-1347
EMERGENCY COMMITTEE FOR AMERICAN TRADE
April 8, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Calman J. Cohen
202.659.5147
STATEMENT OF ERNEST S. MICEK ON CHINA'S ACCESSION
TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Washington, D.C. Ernest S. Micek, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cargill, Incorporated, and
Chairman of the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT), released the following statement
today:
"ECAT is pleased that the recent discussions on China's WTO accession between Premier Zhu
Rongji and President Clinton appear to have resulted in meaningful progress. It is now more important
than ever that the momentum of the negotiations be maintained so that China's accession package can be
completed at the earliest possible date. ECAT will be working, closely with the Administration and the
Congress to convey its views on the importance of concluding a commercially-acceptable agreement with
China.
This is an historic opportunity for the United States to strengthen the global trading system by
bringing China, a nation accounting for one-fifth of the world's population, into the global trading
system. It gives the United States the opportunity to have market access commitments with teeth that are
enforceable in the WTO and to end the uncertainty of prying the Chinese market open through piecemeal
bilateral agreements. It also will allow us to establish ourselves as a reliable supplier of food to the
burgeoning Chinese population and will take the pressure off the Chinese to expand their food supply
through environmentally unsound land-use practices."
ECAT is an organization of the heads of leading U.S. international business enterprises representing all major sectors of the
American economy. Their annual worldwide sales total over $1 trillion and they employ approximately four million persons.
1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone 202.659.5147 Fax 202.659.1347
BUSINESS COALITION
FOR U.S.-CHINA TRADE
April 9, 1999
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S.-CHINA MARKET ACCESS AGREEMENT
We welcome Ambassador Barshefsky's announcement that U.S. and Chinese negotiators have made
substantial progress toward completing the terms for China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
The comprehensive agreement on agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers, industrial products,
tariffs, and services promises to dramatically open China's markets to American products and create new
high-wage jobs for American workers. America's markets are already open. This agreement would level
the playing field.
The market access agreement represents a huge breakthrough for American business, farmers, and
workers. We urge both governments to redouble their efforts to wrap up a WTO agreement as soon as
possible by resolving the handful of key outstanding issues in a way that expands market access. It is
urgent that both governments, and the WTO Working Party, sustain the momentum achieved in recent
weeks.
The U.S.-China agriculture and market access package advances a long-standing American goal of
bringing China under global trading rules. We are pleased that U.S. negotiators have secured
comprehensive commitments to open further the world's higgest emerging market to exports of American
goods, services, and farm products. We look forward to a full briefing by USTR. U.S. business and
agriculture need to study the final written language before making a final assessment.
These negotiations have taken over a decade because American trade negotiators have insisted
throughout on a commercial, not political, deal. The WTO is the foundation of an open, rules-based global
trading system. WTO Membership has always been a privilege, not a right. We are pleased the
agreement shows that China is prepared to undertake the far-reaching commitments required for WTO
Membership.
China, as a trading partner that plays by the rules, is in America's national interest. The WTO's dispute
settlement mechanism, backed up by the threat of WTO-authorized sanctions for non-compliance,
provides an effective tool to enforce U.S. rights.
Integrating China into the global trading system will further strengthen the economic forces that already
have an impact on Chinese society in ways that contribute to greater freedom for its citizens -- a goal
shared by all Americans.
Concerns have been expressed about alleged illegal transfers of U.S. technology. These issues are
important to all Americans, but must be addressed in the proper forums under existing U.S. laws, not by
blocking a WTO deal.
American business and agriculture look forward to working on a bipartisen basis with the Administration
and Congressional leadership to wrap up an historic agreement on the terms for China's entry into the
WTO. We are committed to building a bipartisan consensus in Congress to extend permanent "NTR"
status under U.S. trade law in order to bring this agreement into force.
The Business Coalition for U.S.-China Trade consists of over 1,200 U.S. companies, trade associations,
and farm organizations which support NTR, expansion of U.S.-China trade, and Chinese membership in
the WTO under commercially-acceptable terms that benefit American exports and jobs.
1211 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 801, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20086 202.659.5147 Fax: (202) 669-1847
FROM: JAN COUCH To: MALCOLM LEE
DATE: 4/9/99 TIME: 8:11:04 PM
PAGE 1 OF 1
BUSINESS COALITION
FOR U.S.-CHINA TRADE
April 9, 1999
Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S.-CHINA MARKET ACCESS AGREEMENT
We welcome Ambassador Barshefsky's announcement that U.S. and Chinese negotiators have made
substantial progress toward completing the terms for China's entry into the World Trade Organization. The
comprehensive agreement on agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary barriers, industrial products, tariffs,
and services promises to dramatically open China's markets to American products and create new high-
wage jobs for American workers. America's markets are already open. This agreement would level the
playing field.
The market access agreement represents a huge breakthrough for American business, farmers, and
workers. We urge both governments to redouble their efforts to wrap up a WTO agreement as soon as
possible by resolving the handful of key outstanding issues in a way that expands market access. It is
urgent that both governments, and the WTO Working Party, sustain the momentum achieved in recent
weeks.
The U.S.-China agriculture and market access package advances a long-standing American goal of bringing
China under global trading rules. We are pleased that U.S. negotiators have secured comprehensive
commitments to open further the world's biggest. emerging market to exports of American goods, services,
and farm products. We look forward to a full briefing by USTR. U.S. business and agriculture need to
study the final written language before making a final assessment.
These negotiations have taken over a decade because American trade negotiators have insisted throughout
on a commercial, not political, deal. The WTO is the foundation of an open, rules-based global trading
system. WTO Membership has always been a privilege, not a right. We are pleased the agreement shows
that China is prepared to undertake the far-reaching commitments required for WTO Membership.
China, as a trading partner that plays by the rules, is in America's national interest. The WTO's dispute
settlement mechanism, backed up by the threat of WTO-authorized sanctions for non-compliance, provides
an effective tool to enforce U.S. rights.
Integrating China into the global trading system will further strengthen the economic forces that already
have an impact on Chinese society in ways that contribute to greater freedom for its citizens a goal shared
by all Americans.
Concerns have been expressed about alleged illegal transfers of U.S. technology. These issues are
important to all Americans, but must be addressed in the proper forums under existing U.S. laws, not by
blocking a WTO deal.
American business and agriculture look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with the Administration
and Congressional leadership to wrap up an historic agreement on the terms for China's entry into the
WTO. We are committed to building a bipartisan consensus in Congress to extend permanent "NTR" status
under U.S. trade law in order to bring this agreement into force.
The Business Coalition for U.S.-China Trade consists of over 1,200 U.S. companies, trade associations, and
farm organizations which support NTR, expansion of U.S.-China trade, and Chinese membership in the WTO
under commercially-acceptable terms that benefit American exports and jobs.
1211 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 801, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.659.5147 Fax: (202) 659-1347
NO. 404
P.2/3
APR. 9.1999
2:20PM
SIA NY
SA
SECURITIES INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
For Release: Friday, April 9, 1999
Contact:
James D. Spellman
(202) 296-9410
[email protected]
Margaret Draper
PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE
(212) 618-0531
[email protected]
SIA SUPPORTS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO OPEN CHINESE
HIARKETS TO U.S. SECURITIES FIRMS
The Securities Industry Association expressed its support
today for a U.S.-Chinese announcement that broad progress has
been made toward an expansive market access agreement with
China that will open its economy to American companies. SIA
noted, however, that agreement on securities industry access to
China has not yet been resolved, and that U.S. and Chinese
negotiators agreed to continue discussions in this area. The
securities industry has been a consistent supporter of China's future
accession to the WTO on commercially meaningful terms and in
accordance with fundamental WTO rules.
-more-
120 Broadway, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10271-0080 212-608-1500, fax 212-608-1604
1401 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 0005-2225 202-296-9410, fax 202-296-9775
[email protected], http://www.sia.com
NO.404
P.3/3
APR. 9.1999
2:20PM
SIA NY
"We are pleased to see the enormous progress the Administration has
made in many areas critical to U.S. economic growth." said Marc Lackritz, SIA's
president. "China presents U.S. firms and investors with tremendous new
opportunities, and we urge the Administration to continue to move toward an
agreement that will benefit all Americans. In addition, we strongly believe that
an open economy, fueled by wibrant and efficient capital markets, is in China's
best economic interests."
SIA will continue to work for more liberalized access to China's capital
markets. "SIA fully supports the continuation of accession discussions for
financial services, and other areas, where outstanding issues still exist," Lackritz
said. "We look forward to working with the Treasury Department to secure a
market access package that allows securities firms broader access to China on
terms consistent with fundamental WTO rules."
The Securities Industry Association brings together the shared interests of more
than 740 securities firms to accomplish common goals. SIA member-firms
(including investment banks, broker-dealers, and mutual fund companies) are
active in all U.S. and foreign markets and in all phases of corporate and public
finance. The U.S. securities industry manages the accounts of more than 50-
million investors directly and tens of millions of investors indirectly through
corporate, thrift, and pension plans. The industry generates more than $300
billion of revenues yearly in the U.S. economy and employs more than 600,000
individuals. (More information about the SIA is available on its home page:
http://www.sia.com.)
####
APR-09-1999 17:45 FROM
TO
94569290
P.01
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION
MARKET ACCESS AND COMPLIANCE
OFFICE OF JAPAN TRADE POLICY
Tel 202-482-2176
Fax 202-482-0469
TELEFAX COVER SHEET
DATE:
4/9/99
TO:
Allen Greenberg, State
647-4402
Bill Duff, State
647-6540
Jean Grier, Commerce
482-4076
Tim Fisher, Commerce
482-5702
Bill Schall, Treasury
622-1731
David Boling, Justice
514-4508
Malcom Lee, NEC
6-9290
Hans Klemm
3224-5010
FROM:
Jay Biggs
NUMBER OF PAGES:
2 (including this coversheet)
SUBJECT: GPA Questions
These are a rough draft of some Group Personal Accident questions for next week's insurance
meeting. After some of the questions I have listed a brief rational for asking the question, which
may or may not suggest a follow up question.
I would appreciate feedback from everyone on these questions, including more follow up questions
or relevant background material.
Please get back to me by COB Tuesday April 13, so that I can discuss this with Byron.
Thanks,
Jay Biggs
J.B.
Jay Biggs
Office of Japan
APR-09-1999 17:46
FROM
TO
94569290
P.02
Jay Biggs - Office of Japan Trade Policy
DRAFT
Personal Accident Questions
1.
Is there any actuarial data that would indicate that Japanese insurance firms offering
Personal Accident discounts to Prefectural Dantai Chuokai are basing there decision on
actuarially sound reasons such as commonality of risk?
a.
U.S. industry indicates that the decision to offer these discounts were made in an
effort to induce radical change in the prevailing business environment, not by
profit making motives, and have no actuarial basis such as commonality of risk.
2.
U.S. industry has charged that allowing Personal Accident discounts to Prefectural Dantai
Chuokai is a radical change in the prevailing business environment. Do you have
evidence demonstrating that discounts for similarly sized groups have been previously
given in this sector?
a.
If not, this would indicate that the radical changes that are occurring in the third
sector's business environment are not being matched by changes in the primary
sectors. This runs counter to the intent of our insurance agreements.
b.
Steps must be taken by the Japanese side to immediately halt (or reverse) these
types of sales by Japanese insurance companies.
3.
Is the FSA aware of discounts (rate differentiation) in the primary sectors that are as
large as those recently seen in the personal accident sector? If not, what accounts for this
discrepancy?
a.
U.S. industry has charged that PA discounts in the third sector are much greater
than those allowed in the primary sectors. They claim this indicates FSA's
willingness to tolerate radical change in the third sector, without allowing similar
change in the primary sectors.
4.
Did Mitsui Life Songai Hoken introduce a 40% discounted PA for the Chibu Dantai
Chuokai in Jan. 99?
5.
Does the FSA have plans to allow even larger discounts than the 30% discounts that have
recently been offered to the Osaka Dantai?
APR. 9. 1999 10:35AM
USTR/GENERAL COUNSEL
NO. 7909 P. 2/2
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508
USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR home page at WWW.USTR.GOV.
They are also available through the USTR Fax Retrieval System at 202-395-4809.
99-35
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jay Ziegler
April 9, 1999
Helaine Klasky
Amy Stilwell
(202) 395-3230
USTR ANNOUNCES FINAL PRODUCT LIST IN BANANAS DISPUTE
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) today announced the final list of products on which the
United States will impose 100 percent ad valorem duties in response to a decision by World Trade
Organization (WTO) arbitrators that the European Union (EU) has failed to implement a
WTO-consistent banana regime. The WTO arbitrators determined that the EU banana regime
results in a significant loss in U.S. exports of goods and services and that the United States is
entitled to suspend tariff concessions covering trade in an amount of $191.4 million per year.
The USTR will publish the determination imposing the 100 percent duties in the Federal Register and
intends to make the imposition of such duties effective March 3, 1999.
LIST OF PRODUCTS
The imposition of 100% duties will apply to products that are both: (1) classified in the subheadings of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States listed below; and (2) the product of Austria, Belgium,
Finland, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, or the United Kingdom. Note that 100% duties will not apply to HTS 85167000, electrothermic
coffee or tea makers, for domestic purposes, that are the product of Italy. The product descriptions in the table
below are provided for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to delimit in any way the scope of
the products, which is to be determined by the HTS number.
HTS No.
Product Description
33073050
Bath preparations, other than bath salts
42022215
Handbags, with or without shoulder straps or without handle, with outer surface of sheeting of
plastics
42023210
Articles of a kind normally carried in the pocket or handbag, with outer surface of reinforced or
laminated plastics
48055000
Uncoated felt paper and paperboard in rolls or sheets
48192000
Folding cartons, boxes and cases of noncorrugated paper or paperboard
49119120
Lithographs on paper or paperboard, not over 0.51 mm in thickness, printed not over 20 years at
time of importation
63022190
Bed linen, not knit or crochet, printed, of cotton, not containing any embroidery, lace, braid,
edging, trimming, piping or applique work, not napped
85072080
Lead-acid storage batteries other than of a kind used for starting piston engines or as the
primary source of power for electric vehicles
85167100
Electrothermic coffee or tea makers, for domestic purposes (Except Italy)
China World Hotel
FACSIMILE
Attention St: LAEL BRAINARD
From #: MALCOLULEE
Company o]: NEC
Room As 1514
Fax No. 1/2 #: : 001-202-456-2848
Date 8 #: 4/21/99
No. of pages (including this one)
:
2
CC
of
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BELOW. CONTROL OFFICER IS ROBIN BORDIE HER
CELL is 0137 123 5100 OR REACH HER THRU
EMDASSY. HER HOME PHONE 6 532 -1808. I DU
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The information contained in this facsimile is intended for the named recipient only. It may contain privileged and confidential information and it you are not an
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TEL/ & it: (86 10) 65052266
FAX/ 4 #: (86 10) 65053167/ 3168/ 3164/0828
her
DEPUTLES MEETING ON STEEL
DRAFT AGENUA
1. MARKET DEVELOPMENTS (COMMERCE/CEA)
2. LEGISLATION
- INDUSTRY / LABOR POSTURE (CONNERCE/OUP/COS)
- QUOTA BILL (STATUS (TIMING/VOTE COUNT) (witley, USTR)
- ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION (STATUS/POSSIBLE CONTENTS) (USTR/LOMMERCE)
- STRATEGY
3. BILATERAL EFFORTS
- JAPAN/KOREA (STATUS/POINTS) (USTR)
- RUSSIA AGREEMENTS (STATUS/COJUES/TIMING) (COMMERCE)
- OTHER COUNTRIES ( POTENTIAL SURGES) (COMMERCE)
4.
UPDATE ON STATUS OF TRADE CASES (COMMERCE)
Willsend amotated agencla separately.
PAGE
5
Agence France Presse, April 06, 1999
FOCUS
China has insisted it be admitted to the Geneva-based WTO as a developing
country, notably as it is carrying out a difficult and delicate transition from
a controlled to a marketForiented economy.
US officials counter that given the size of the Chinese market and the
country's well developed export sector, China deserves no special WTO status.
Telecommunications, where the ministry of information operates a virtual
monopoly, agriculture, where punitive tariffs protect local products and
financial services have been cited as the most sensitive areas in the talks.
Other problems include the automotive industry, where a protected market has
kept prices high and sales sluggish, insurance and opportunities to establish
distribution networks.
Without a WTO agreement, the White House would be left with little to
announce after Thursday's summit meeting between Clinton and Zhu, though experts
see a broad bilateral accord In principle on China's WTO membership as a strong
possibility.
Even in the event of a WTO breakthrough, US legislators many of whom
believe Clinton has presented them with far too rosy a picture of US-China ties
-- would scrutinize it exhaustively to ascertain that its market-opening
conditions were tough enough.
Fueling the mutual distrust are differences over human rights and how to
handle the worsening crisis in Kosovo
Moreover, Chinese relations with tiny, self-governing Taiwan remain at an
impasse, and Beijing is incensed over the US desire to develop a Theater Missile
Defense (TMD) for troops and allies in East Asia.
In what China regards as a stinging diplomatic slap, the United States is
sponsoring a resolution formally condemning Chinese abuses at the UN Human
Rights Commission in Geneva.
Worsening things further are reports that China stole advanced US nuclear
weapons technology in the 1980s and that its military intelligence chief ordered
large donations to Clinton's 1996 campaign fund.
China on Monday denied it had never donated to a US presidential campaigns.
Reports of a political donation in the United States was nothing more than a
"random and wanton fallacy concocted by a few people with ulterior motives,
said foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said, quoted by the official Xinhua
news agency.
nh/fgf
LOAD-DATE: April 06, 1999
04/13/99 TUE 16:46 FAX 202 456 9250
ASIAN AFFAIRS
001
JOINT STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
April 13, 1999
President Clinton and Premier Zhu spoke this afternoon on the
telephone. During the conversation, they agreed that it is
important to move intensively on negotiations toward resolution
of outstanding issues in our talks on China's accession to the
WTO. They have agreed to continue negotiations by the end of
the month in Beijing.
Malcolm R. Lee
04/13/99 03:38:25 PM
Record Type:
Record
To:
See the distribution list at the bottom of this message
CC:
Subject: Urgent Clearance: Joint POTUS-Zhu Statement on WTO Negotiations
JTSTATEA.WP Proposed joint Clinton-Zhu Statement for your comments, clearance per POTUS
-ZHU conversation. After we have an Administration appoved text, NSC Asia will share with
Chinese Embassy. ML
Message Sent To:
Gene B. Sperling/OPD/EOP
barshefsky_charlene @ ustr.gov @ INET @ VAXGTWY
novick_robert @ ustr.gov @ INET @ VAXGTWY
ennis_erin @ ustr.gov @ INET @ VAXGTWY
Mike Froman @ treas.sprint.com @ inet
Sharon H. Yuan/OPD/EOP
Lael Brainard/OPD/EOP
chernish_carol @ ustr.gov @ INET @ VAXGTWY
JOINT STATEMENT BY
PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON AND PREMIER ZHU RONGJI
April 13, 1999
The President and Premier Zhu during a telephone conversation
today agreed that it is important to move intensively on
negotiations toward resolution of outstanding issues in our
talks on China's accession to the WTO. They have agreed to
continue negotiations by the end of the month in Beijing.
Treasury clears.
Steenbugs is edits showN.
Genedid Not lilleword "quickly".
Any comments by USTR?
Have Not shared w/ Poduta or chirere yet.
3rd week 22 and
Withdrawal/Redaction Marker
Clinton Library
DOCUMENT NO.
SUBJECT/TITLE
DATE
RESTRICTION
AND TYPE
003. draft
Briefing Memo for Telephone Call with Jiang Zemin. (2 pages)
05/13/1999
P1/b(1)
COLLECTION:
Clinton Presidential Records
National Economic Council
Malcolm Lee
OA/Box Number: CF 1176
FOLDER TITLE:
China (April 1999, Zhu Bilateral) [13]
2010-1024-F
vz1833
RESTRICTION CODES
Presidential Records Act - [44 U.S.C. 2204(a)]
Freedom of Information Act - [5 U.S.C. 552(b)]
P1 National Security Classified Information [(a)(1) of the PRA]
b(1) National security classified information [(b)(1) of the FOIA]
P2 Relating to the appointment to Federal office [(a)(2) of the PRAJ
b(2) Release would disclose internal personnel rules and practices of
P3 Release would violate a Federal statute [(a)(3) of the PRA]
an agency |(b)(2) of the FOIA]
P4 Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
b(3) Release would violate a Federal statute [(b)(3) of the FOIA]
financial information [(a)(4) of the PRA|
b(4) Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential or financial
P5 Release would disclose confidential advice between the President
information [(b)(4) of the FOIA]
and his advisors, or between such advisors [a)(5) of the PRA]
b(6) Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
P6 Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of
personal privacy [(b)(6) of the FOIA]
personal privacy |(a)(6) of the PRAJ
b(7) Release would disclose information compiled for law enforcement
purposes [(b)(7) of the FOIA]
C. Closed in accordance with restrictions contained in donor's deed
b(8) Release would disclose information concerning the regulation of
of gift.
financial institutions [(b)(8) of the FOIA]
PRM. Personal record misfile defined in accordance with 44 U.S.C.
b(9) Release would disclose geological or geophysical information
2201(3).
concerning wells [(b)(9) of the FOIA]
RR. Document will be reviewed upon request.