Thirty-five members of the US House of Representatives have urged the Bush administration to express its firm support for Taiwan's accession to the WTO as an equal partner when the organization holds its ministerial meeting in Qatar.
In a Nov. 8 joint letter to US President George W. Bush, the members of Congress state that: "we are writing to reiterate our strong support for Taiwan's accession to the WTO at the ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, and to express concern about efforts to undercut Taiwan's accession as a full and independent member."
"As part of legislation granting permanent normal trade relations with the People's Republic of China," they said, "Congress expressed its support for Taiwan's accession to the WTO and its opposition to any efforts to block their accession by any WTO member".
"We are pleased that the PRC and Taiwan will be joining the WTO at the Ministerial Conference at Doha. Their membership will expand trade with the United States, accelerate economic reform, and enhance economic growth," they said.
The House representatives told Bush that "no obstacles should be raised to Taiwan's accession to the WTO, including obstacles to Taiwan's recourse to dispute settlement. As members of the WTO, both the PRC and Taiwan have the rights to settle trade disputes using the WTO framework."
"At Doha, we hope that the Bush administration will again express its firm support of Taiwan's accession to the WTO as an equal partner with other members," they said.
Signatories to the letter include Republican Representative Bill Thomas, who is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Republican Representative Phil Crane, who chairs the House Trade Subcommittee, and Republican Representative Jennifer Dunn.
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