Senior U.S., Chinese officials to discuss further trade liberalization

Senior U.S., Chinese officials to discuss further trade liberalization U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman will meet with senior Chinese government officials today in Beijing to discuss ongoing trade liberalization between the two countries.
   At today's meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), Portman will also be joined by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns.
   Portman said the goal of the meeting is to further reduce China’s barriers to American goods and services, in addition to intellectual property protections. The JCCT was established in 1983.
   Since China joined the WTO in 2001, U.S. exports to China have grown 81 percent to about $35 billion. China is America’s third-largest trading partner and the country’s fifth-largest export market for goods.
   Following the JCCT meeting, Portman will lead a senior U.S. delegation to Dalian, China, for high-level World Trade Organization informal meetings. About 30 trade ministers representing WTO members will come together to advance negotiations in the Geneva-based body's latest round of trade talks, known as the Doha development agenda. Portman will be joined by Johanns at the meetings.