WTO delay tolerated by China

By staff and wires

GENEVA, Switzerland -- The terror attacks on the United States have led to the progress of China's entry to the World Trade Organization being slowed.

A key meeting has been put off from Thursday to next Monday, with no objections from China.

WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said the decision took account of shock among the U.S. delegation and other negotiators over Tuesday's terror attacks in New York and Washington.

China's top negotiator, Long Yongtu, said his delegation had no objection to the delay.

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"We don't mind if it takes a few extra days . . . especially in view of what has happened," Long told reporters outside a meeting of the WTO working party on Chinese accession.

Officials said Long had taken the floor at the meeting to express his and his government's "deep condolences" to the U.S. negotiating team headed by assistant U.S. trade representative Jeffrey Bader.

The European Union's negotiator, Karl Falkenberg, said his delegation also had no problem with the postponement "especially in these terrible circumstances."

Long said he was confident the talks, which are snagged over terms for the operation of foreign insurance companies in China after it enters the WTO and some smaller issues, could be wrapped up by Monday.

But Falkenberg said the problem, which involves the EU, the United States and China in differing interpretations of a key section of the entry text, could only be resolved if concessions were made.

"I think we can reach a good outcome if everyone is ready to chip in a bit," he added.