China is playing the game - WTO chief

GENEVA - China is "playing the game" on opening its domestic market following accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said in a newspaper interview.

China is "playing the game" on opening its domestic market following accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy, seen here on 24 October 2006, said in a newspaper interview. [AFP]

Lamy told the Swiss newspaper Le Temps that China was now more exposed to pressure from the United States and European Union over potential shortcomings because of the end of its five-year transition period.

But he underlined that the Chinese had the same rights within the WTO's organized free trade system.

"Are (they) playing the game on lowering tariffs or opening up their market? Yes. They have done the work they pledged to do," Lamy added.

On Friday, the United States and EU accused China of failing to come clean over the subsidies it pays to industry during a review by a WTO committee. The EU said that there were substantial omissions.

In response to claims that China was not playing a prominent role in global trade talks like the US, EU, Brazil and India, the WTO chief said the Chinese were "in there".

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