China calls for early conclusion of WTO-backed tariff-free treaty talks

China hopes that the long-delayed international negotiations on adding more tech products to a tariff-free treaty backed by the World Trade Organization will be put through soon, a senior trade official said on Tuesday.

"The government has been actively participating in the dialogue. We have made great efforts (during negotiations) and wish an agreement will be reached as soon as possible," said Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce.

Shen's comments came after the WTO said 54 of its members are close to a deal that will expand the 20-year-old Information Technology Agreement and eliminate tariffs on an additional list of 201 products valued at about $1 trillion in annual trade across the globe.