China's First Negotiation after Formal WTO Entry: No Consensus Reached

Home>>Business

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 12, 2001

China's First Negotiation after Formal WTO Entry: No Consensus Reached

Chinese and Japanese ministers Tuesday held a consultation in Beijing on farm produces disputes between the two countries but without reaching any consensus. This is China's first trade disputes negotiation on the day after the country's formal joining of the WTO.

In addition, the deadline for Japan's one-year-long investigation on whether its agriculture was affected by three agricultural imports from China, including green onions, fresh mushrooms and mats made of small iris will come to an end on the December 21, 2001. Currently, it has attracted wide public attention on whether Japan will launch formal protecting measures to restrict agricultural imports from China and how the Chinese government will deal with the trade war.

Sino-Japan consultation on farm produces disputes failed

Chinese and Japanese ministers Tuesday held a consultation in Beijing on farm produces disputes between the two countries but without reaching any consensus. This is China's first trade disputes negotiation on the day after the country's formal joining of the WTO.

This negotiation was jointly conducted by Shi Guangsheng, Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Takeo Hiranuma, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Shoichi Nakagawa, Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

During the nearly three-hour consultation, the two sides did not make any substantial progress or schedule for next negotiation. Japanese media has ever reported that Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had transferred "full freedom and rights" to the two ministers on such issues and the ministers had formally promised to make progresses in consultations between the two countries.

Will Japan launch formal restrictive measures for China's farm procucts?

In addition, the deadline for Japan's one-year-long investigation on whether its agriculture was affected by three agricultural imports from China, including green onions, fresh mushrooms and mats made of small iris will come to an end on the December 21, 2001. Currently, it has attracted wide public attention on whether Japan will launch formal protecting measures to restrict agricultural imports from China and how the Chinese government will deal with the trade war.

China Protests Japan's Tariffs on Agricultural Products

The Japanese Embassy in China on April 11, 2001 informed the Chinese government in a letter that the Japanese side will impose emergency tariffs on green Chinese onions, fresh mushrooms and rushes starting from April 23.

Spokeswoman Gao Yan of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) said the unilateral decision of the Japanese government to impose emergency tariffs has "seriously harmed Sino-Japanese trade relations" and "is against the rules of fair play."

Sino-Japanese trade on agricultural products has been developed through joint efforts from the industries of the two countries in line with Japan's actual market demand, Gao said, adding that China's agricultural products are widely welcomed by Japanese consumers.

The Japanese side, regardless of the facts, has violated the trade liberalization principle it advocates by setting emergency tariffs on the three vegetables, prior to sufficient consultations with the Chinese side and without drawing an objective, fair and practical conclusion, she said.

By PD Online staff member Huang Ying

Sino-Japanese Trade Talks Begin on Farm Produce Dispute

Japan Threatens to Extend Import Curbs on Chinese Products

China Demands Japan Immediately Lift Restriction on Chinese Products

>> Full Coverage