U.S. Trade Representative: Much remains to be done to finaliz

　　ForeignmediasaidU.S.TradeRepresentativeLetterheisersaidonFebruary27thatalthoughthetwosideshintedthatthenegotiationswereclosetotheendline,therewasstillmuchworktobedonetoreachanewtradeagreementwithChina.

 

　　AccordingtoAgenceFrance-PresseonFebruary27,aftermonthsofnegotiationswithBeijing,Lethizersaidatacongressionalhearingthat"substantialprogresshasbeenmadenow".

 

　　"Thereisstillalotofworktobedonebeforeanagreementcanbereached,"hesaid.Onceanagreementisreached,moreimportantworkremainstobedone.

 

　　ReportedthatWrightHitzer'sremarksattheHousehearinghighlightedtheobstaclesnegotiatorsstillface,althoughbothsidesareclearlyeagertoendtradefrictions.

 

　　LethizersaidheunderstandsthedifficultiesfacedbyAmericancompaniesintradefrictions.

 

　　Lethizerstressedthatanyagreementmustbestrong.Hesaid:"Ifwereachanagreement,thisenforcementprocess...It'sgoingtobeveryspecific,"Lethizersaid."It'sgoingtobehierarchical,it'sgoingtobetimetableandit'sgoingtohavefeedback.

 

　　AccordingtoReutersonFebruary27,U.S.TradeRepresentativeLethizertoldCongressonFebruary27thatmuchremainstobedonetofinalizetheSino-U.S.tradeagreement,includingamechanismtoensureitsimplementation.

 

　　"Ifwecanaccomplishthiseffort-Imeanif...WemaybeabletoreachanagreementthatwillhelpusreverseoureconomicrelationshipwithChina.WrightHitzertestifiedtotheHouseFundraisingCommittee.

 

　　Inaddition,accordingtotheWallStreetJournalwebsiteonFebruary27,U.S.TradeRepresentativeLethizersaidonFebruary27thatthetradeagreementhewasnegotiatingwithChinawouldincludeacomplexenforcementmechanisminvolvingregularconsultationswithBeijing.

 

　　AtaHousehearing,LethizersaidthatanyagreementwithChinamusthaveenforcementrules.Hesaidthatlow-levelofficialsofthetwocountrieswillmeetonceamonth,vice-ministerswillmeetquarterlyandministerswillmeetonceahalfyear.

 

　　Hesaidthatthegoaloftheconsultationwastosolvetheproblemsthatmightariseatthemostsubtlelevel.