Nation steps up WTO entry

China has bridged its differences with the United States on all remaining issues concerning China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Shi Guangsheng said he and US trade representative Robert Zoellick had reached agreements on all remaining issues concerning China's WTO entry.

The agreements were important in preparing for the WTO China working team's 16th meeting, and were expected to step up China's multilateral negotiations to join the WTO.
Major differences with the US include agricultural subsides, trade in services, retail and distribution and trading rights.

The Sino-US agreements were presumed to be reached after concluding the 2001 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) on June 7.