US companies urge China to speed up talks over market access
Discussions on the Bilateral Investment Treaty, especially over which sectors will be closed off to outsiders, must happen faster, says lobby group AmCham China
A delay by China over improving market access for foreign companies could erode support in the US business community for a key investment deal, a lobby group has said.
The warning comes as Beijing compiles its negative list, which lays out which sectors will be closed to American investors if the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) is signed.
In its present form, the list is longer than the US business community expected, and a final version may not come any time soon.
“Beijing is still committed to do this, but I think it will take a bit of time to do internal work for the government to be able to get approval to offer more market liberalisation in the negative list,” said Timothy Stratford, a former US assistant trade official who is representing the American business community.
I’ve heard from well-informed people who said it could take weeks or month
Beijing was scheduled to hand over the negative list at the end of March or early this month. But Stratford anticipated a further wait. “I’ve heard from well-informed people who said it could take weeks or months.”
The treaty would attract more US investment and advanced technology to China, which would help its industry evolve. The pact would also remove obstacles preventing Chinese companies from pouring more funds into the US and creating jobs there.