The US has reached a consensus with China on issues holding up its entry to the World Trade Organisation, and pledged to work with Beijing to complete its accession in Geneva, the US embassy said today.
China's trade minister Mr Shi Guangsheng and US trade representative Mr Robert Zoellick met for talks on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers meeting in Shanghai this week.
"We are pleased to report that the US and China have reached consensus on major issues that we discussed," the US embassy in Beijing said in a statement.
It gave no specific details on the issues, but talks on China's entry have been stalled over the amount of subsidies it can pay its farmers, and other issues.
"China and the US agree that we should now work together in Geneva to complete China's WTO accession. We will work closely with other WTO members to build on the consensus we have reached this week in Shanghai," it said.
"This understanding is a win-win result for China and the US. It should help us and the other nations of the WTO to try to complete China's accession this year," Mr Zoellick said.