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WTO chief neutral on Sino-US trade row
By Xie Chuanjiao and Andrew London (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2007-06-21 08:24
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World Trade Organization chief Pascal Lamy yesterday refused to take sides in trade disputes between 皇冠体育app and the United States, saying he had to remain neutral.
However, Lamy said the trade relationship between the twoWTOmembers had both "economic and political sides".
皇冠体育app this week criticized a revised US regulation which tightens controls on hi-tech exports to the country, saying it would affect two-way trade.
Washington will slap restrictions on up to 20 categories of technology to 皇冠体育app with possible military end-use, including lasers and navigation systems.
The move prompted a curt response fromMinistry of Commercespokesman Yao Shenhong, who said the US regulation would impose "irrational barriers" on bilateral trade.
Lamy, however, did say there were WTO "exceptions" that dealt with defense and national security matters.
"The moment (disputing sides) go to a litigation system, I have to remain silent as we have a court which adjudicates disputes," he told 皇冠体育app Daily.
The WTO chief did, however, offer a description of the current situation in the two countries.
"The US consumer is not saving enough and the Chinese consumer is saving too much," he said. "That is the economic reality."
Earlier yesterday in an address to the Beijing forum, Lamy said the world community was experiencing a "new stage ofglobalization", comparing the accelerated expansion of market capitalism to the 19th century industrial revolution.
He said one of the most important challenges of globalization was to ensure its benefits were more fairly and widely shared, particularly for developing countries.
He urged the need to conclude the deadlocked Doha Round of global trade talks, as they were crucial to controlling and harnessing globalization and ensuring sustainable development.
"The millions being lifted out of poverty in 皇冠体育app and India are living testimony to that," he said.