OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON 20506
92-49
Contact: Chris Allen
Pat Norman 202/395-6120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 21, 1992
US ANNOUNCES POSSIBLE PRODUCTS FOR RETALIATION
IN MARKET ACCESS DISPUTE WITH CHINA
U.S. Trade Representative Carla A. Hills today announced the publication of a list of $3.9 billion in Chinese imports that could face prohibitive tariffs if the Peoples' Republic of China As part fails to remove market access barriers to U.S. exports. of a section 301 market access investigation launched last year, the U.S. must decide before October 10, 1992 whether to take action against Chinese imports if agreement is not reached.
The largest of its kind ever published by USTR, the list includes a wide range of China's agricultural and industrial exports to the United States, including footwear, silk apparel, leather goods, minerals, industrial hardware, and electronics goods. It is scheduled to appear in the August 26 Federal Register, and, after a 30 day public comment period and public hearings, the list will be narrowed and the U.S. Government will decide whether to take action against Chinese imports.
"If China is to continue to enjoy full access to U.S. markets, then it must play by the rules of the international
"To do community and allow access to its markets, " said Hills. less will not only jeopardize its access to our market, it will fall far short of what GATT will demand of China as a ticket for membership."
The publication of the list follows the unsuccessful conclusion of the fifth recent round of market access talks, held in Beijing August 19-21.
Initiated by USTR on October 10, 1991, the market access investigation centers on such barriers as: absence of transparency, import licensing requirements, import bans, quotas, restrictions, and controls and certification and standards requirements, including sanitary and phytosanitary standards. The U.S. is also discussing with China the elimination of its import substitution policy and tariffs raised by China since 1988.
Following the public comment period, USTR will hold public hearings September. 23-25 to receive additional comments on the list. In developing a final list efforts will be made to minimize the effects on U.S. producers and consumers of increased tariffs in particular sectors.
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