As Sino-US talks on Beijing's entry to the World Trade Organisation dragged into their fifth day yesterday, the press blamed excessive demands by Washington and the politicisation of the issue by the US Congress as the stumbling blocks. While neither side is giving details of the obstacles to a deal, a few of the more outspoken newspapers offered explanations why 13 years of talks have failed to find a solution. 'After his victory at Austerlitz, Napoleon said that the key to victory was to hold on to the very last minute. But, if both side use this strategy in the talks, no one will win,' said the China Economic Times in a front-page commentary. 'Negotiations over 13 years have taught us that it is impossible to enter the WTO just by satisfying the demands of one side. 'If both sides give a little, then there could be a big step forward. We hope that the two will take such a big step together,' it said. The publication argued that US President Bill Clinton had come a long way since refusing a WTO offer presented to him by Prime Minister Zhu Rongji on April 8 this year. Mr Clinton made two demands Mr Zhu could not accept: that import quotas on Chinese textiles be extended to 2010, five years longer than for other developing countries; and that China enter WTO as a non-market economy, making its exports an easy target for anti-dumping suits. By October, Mr Clinton had a change of heart, calling President Jiang Zemin on October 16 and November 6 to urge a resumption of talks, after which the team led by Charlene Barshefsky arrived last Tuesday. The US said it was willing to make concessions on Beijing's textile imports and be more flexible on its demand for entry into China's lucrative telecommunications market. But despite this flexibility, agreement has so far been impossible, the newspaper said. In its analysis of the talks, the China Business Times said the three main sticking points were major differences over textile quotas and anti-dumping procedures in the US, and China's quarantine regulations for farm goods. 'The main reason why China has not been able to enter the WTO up to now is the US and its unreasonable insistence on retaining the system of textile quotas,' it said. 'This is a result of political pressure from the US Congress. The politicisation of the issue is the reason why the talks have gone on for so many years.' On the Chinese side, some industries are fearful of the consequences of WTO entry, especially those that have enjoyed protection from foreign competition for a long time. 'China is a part of the world and should take its place in the 134-member family of WTO,' the publication said. 'The water has flowed down the mountain and is ready to enter the field,' it said. 'Perhaps it will be just a few days that we have some news to tell the world. That is what we have been waiting for these last 13 years,' it said.
