Beijing, Feb 21: Chinese and EU negotiators held a new round of market-opening talks on Monday to try to hammer out a deal that would remove the biggest remaining obstacle to China's membership in the World Trade Organisation.EU officials refused to comment on the technical negotiations beyond confirming the talks would resume on Tuesday as scheduled.
"The talks will continue tomorrow," said a Beijing-based EU official.EU sources say a third day of negotiations would be arranged if all goes well and EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy has said he is ready to jump on a plane to Beijing later in the week, depending on progress.
The EU is the most important WTO member yet to conclude a trade deal with China and there are hopeful signs that this round could break a deadlock that has lasted for 13 years.
Washington clinched a historic market-opening agreement with China last November, and US officials are anxious for China to wrap up agreements with the EU and several other countries so they can quickly send the deal to Congress for a vote before anti-China sentiment sinks its prospects.
Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.