Press Covereage of the Sept 24, 2003 CECC Hearing

Trade Officials Continue To Defend Lack Of WTO Action Against China
China Trade Extra, September 24, 2003 (available to subscribers only)
Two trade officials today (Sept. 24) defended the Bush Administration's decision to stay away from a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel against China for its multiple failures to fulfill commitments in areas such as agriculture and services. They acknowledged that China is falling short of its commitments, but told members of the Congressional Executive China Commission that they believe the U.S. is making enough progress to warrant a delay in WTO action.

http://www.chinatradeextra.com/secure/CTE/chdsply_docnum_txt.asp?f=wto2001.ask&dn=9242003_continue (available to subscribers only)

US faults China WTO compliance, as lawmakers fume
Reuters, September 24, 2003
WASHINGTON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - U.S. officials faulted China on Wednesday for skirting commitments to import more foreign goods, while lawmakers complained the Asian giant's fixed exchange rate has fueled the record U.S. trade deficit.

"I think the time has come for action," Rep. Sander Levin, a Michigan Democrat, told reporters.

In testimony before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Bush administration officials said Beijing continues to drag its feet on implementing market-opening commitments on agriculture, services, intellectual property rights protection and transparency in government regulations.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/030924/trade_china_usa_2.html

US industry steps up pressure on Bush over China currency battle
AFP, September 25, 2003
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US industry urged the administration of President George W. Bush to intensify pressure on China over its currency peg, which it says is costing vital jobs and profits.

"Pegging the yuan to the dollar appears to be part of a deliberate strategy to support Chinese industry and boost exports," William Primosch, director of international business policy at the National Association of Manufacturers, told a congressional panel.

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/030924/afp/030924192905asiapacificnews.html

White House Says It Will Adopt Tougher Stance on China Trade
Wall Street Journal, September 25, 2003
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration stepped up its criticism of China's trade and currency policies, and officials pledged a more aggressive U.S. approach to try to force change.

Testifying before a congressional committee set up to monitor China's compliance with promises it made to the World Trade Organization, two senior U.S. officials said Wednesday that China has made only uneven progress in liberalizing trade and foreign-investment rules, frustrating U.S. negotiators and businesses.

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB106444316815807000,00.html (available to subscribers only)

Insurance Group Lays Out More Questions About China'S New Rules
China Trade Extra, October 1, 2003 (available to subscribers only)
The U.S. insurance industry last week laid out several new and detailed questions about new Chinese rules outlining the conditions foreign-owned companies must meet in order to establish themselves and operate in China. In testimony to the Congressional-Executive China Commission, an industry representative said the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) wants to confirm with China five general assumptions reflected in the new regulations, which in many ways go to the heart of industry fears that China may impose a system for foreign insurance companies that discriminates in favor of Chinese-owned firms.

http://www.chinatradeextra.com/secure/CTE/ch_dsply_nl_txt.asp?f=wto2001.ask&dh=146160388&q=(available to subscribers only)