China calls for halt on protectionism

By Jiang Wei and Wang Bo (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-04 13:31

China has urged the United States to drop measures limiting imports of Chinese products in a bid against protectionism.

Countries should not take protectionist measures against the WTO rules, and stem the abuse of WTO trade remedy measures, deputy minister of commerce Yi Xiaozhun said at the Global Think Tank Summit in Beijing Saturday.

"The US special safeguard provision on Chinese products is a symbolic protectionist measure and should be abandoned," Yi said.

The minister said it was important to implement the G20 commitment, which could effectively prevent the massive resurgence of protectionist sentiment across the world.

He also called for pushing forward the Doha round negotiation, which he believed is also key in fighting against protectionism.

"If countries could be two to three times more open to each other than the current level, it could generate $150 billion in direct returns to the world," he said.

The first Global Think Tank Summit will be held in Beijing from July 2-4, where close to 100 top-notch think tanks from home and abroad will be represented, including the Brookings Institution.
Main Forum
International Financial and Economic Crisis and Global Economic Outlook
Sub-Forums
I:  Promoting Trade Liberalization and Investment Facilitation
II: Sustainable Development and Macro-economic Policies
III: Cooperation and Responsibilities of Multinationals during the Financial and Economic Crisis
IV: Global Consumption, Savings and Financial Security
V:  Idea Exchange with Global Think Tanks on Key Economic Issues
Agenda
Afternoon of July 2 - Opening Ceremony
July 3 - Main Forum
July 4 - Parallel Sub-Forums
 
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