TAIWAN's application to join the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is being given a rough ride by other countries following a series of tough demands from the island.
But as GATT members pick holes in Taiwan's application, they are preparing to put pen to paper on China's membership before the next working group meeting in March.
Former GATT director-general Arthur Dunkel said: ''Negotiations with Taiwan are taking place according to the normal rules of GATT, and I understand they are not so smooth as some of the parties thought they would be, because representatives of Taipei are asking for a number of deviations from the normal standards of accession to GATT.
''These are broadly technicalities relating to agriculture and some other sectors.'' Last week, officials and economists said Taiwan was coming under pressure to improve access to foreign goods and services.
Mr Dunkel added that talks to join GATT always involved tough negotiations, with definitions of mutual rights and obligations weighing heavily.
''When Thailand, Mexico and the Philippines joined the GATT it was not a smooth process,'' he said.