U.S.-China bilateral trade talks set for Dec.10

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab on Friday said the 18th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) will be held the week of Dec. 10 in Beijing, China.

The JCCT, a high-level government-to-government dialogue, identifies and works to resolve bilateral trade issues to expand trade opportunities. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will also participate in the JCCT.

While U.S. exports to China are growing, many barriers remain, Gutierrez said in a statement. we will be working with our counterparts in China to continue delivering results for American workers, businesses, farmers and ranchers, and expanding access to the Chinese market. Commenced in 1983, this 18th plenary JCCT session will be co-chaired on the U.S. side by Gutierrez and Schwab, and on the Chinese side by Vice Premier Wu Yi. The JCCT, the bilateral venue for the United States and China to address trade and market access issues, has more than a dozen working groups and sub-groups that meet throughout the year to work on a range of trade and investment issues.

Recent accomplishments of the JCCT include: China's agreement to preload legal operating system software on all computers produced or imported into China, thereby addressing one aspect of business software piracy and helping U.S. software manufacturers; a commitment by China to submit an offer to the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Internet Treaties; and development of guidelines to promote bilateral technology trade that help U.S. exporters while maintaining U.S. security.