U.S. Trade Chief to Discuss China, WTO

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, who last fall helped negotiate terms for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, comes to Los Angeles today to present her case on why Congress should approve the country’s permanent trade status. Congress previously has had to sign off on normalized trade relations with China on a yearly basis, but now the Clinton administration is pushing for permanent status as part of efforts to secure China’s membership in WTO, the Geneva-based organization that sets standards for global commerce. Under an agreement worked out between Barshefsky and Beijing, China would ease tariffs on many U.S. exports and raise import quotas on U.S. goods as part of conditions to join WTO. Congress must approve the terms of the agreement. Barshefsky’s talk, sponsored by Town Hall Los Angeles, is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. with questions to follow at the Hotel Inter-Continental in downtown Los Angeles. For more information, call (213) 628-8141.