WTO Director Urges China to Push for Free-Trade Talks

Luis Ramirez
Beijing
10 Nov 2003, 14:47 UTC

The head of the World Trade Organization is calling on China to use its growing
economic influence to push for the restart of stalled multi-lateral free-trade talks.

WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi spoke to a group of Chinese

officials and businesspeople in Beijing, urging China to help push for the
resumption of talks.

"More than ever, we need China to join in with other members to put the round
AP back on track and to move it forward," said Mr. Supachai.
Supachai
Panitchpakdi
China is the world's fifth-largest trading power, and Mr. Supachai said it is in the
country's best interest that the next round succeed. The WTO chief said China is in a good position
to help resolve the kind of differences that caused negotiations to collapse in Cancun, Mexico, in
September.

"At a time when the WTO faces an impasse, we need China to use its influence to be a bridge
between developed and developing member countries," he said. "China holds a unique position as
being both a developing country and an emerging superpower."

Talks on drafting an agenda for the organization fell apart in September when developing nations, in
a dispute with rich countries over agricultural issues, walked out of the negotiations.

Chinese Deputy Commerce Minister Yu Guangzhou blamed the collapse of the Cancun talks on
what he said was the failure by wealthy WTO members to address the needs of developing
countries.

Some analysts have labeled the breakdown of talks a catastrophe. The WTO head called that
characterization inappropriate, saying the collapse had brought about a new willingness by
members to work to make the negotiations succeed.

Mr. Supachai said he is working with trade officials of various countries to hold another round of
talks before a December deadline.