China unlikely to join American-led Pacific trade agreement in near future, says senior US official

US Trade Representative Michael Froman has indicated it is premature to discuss China’s participation in an American-led Pacific free trade initiative that was broadly agreed on earlier this month.

 China has “a long way to go to be able to meet standards”, Froman told a conference organised by a think tank in Washington.

 To join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TTP, China would have to deal with mounting new issues, such as labour and environmental standards, protections against trade secret theft and a free and open internet, Froman said.

 “That means that China is going to have to up its game and raise its bar to compete” within the framework of the inititative, Froman said.

READ MORE: US-led TPP trade pact can help spur economic reforms in China

 He suggested China would have to demonstrate that it was able and willing to meet high standards if it wants to join the trade agreement, which would cover some 40 per cent of global gross domestic product.

 Froman said the United States has been working with China on an investment treaty as a way to urge the country to ease restrictions on American business.