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India, China conclude WTO pact: Indian embassy

BEIJING: India and China have agreed a bilateral trade deal, removing one more barrier to Beijing's entry into the World Trade Organisation, (WTO) the Indian Embassy here told AFP on Tuesday.

"Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran will sign the deal" shortly, said an embassy official, who asked to remain anonymous.

"China has agreed to lower general tariff rates for a range of agricultural, industrial and marine products from about 20 percent to 10 percent," the official said.

The agreement was made during talks Monday between Maran and Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng (MOFTEC), said the diplomat.

A MOFTEC spokesman said he was "not sure" about the deal with India. The accord comes as a visiting European Union trade delegation is engaged in key talks with Chinese trade officials on sealing a bilateral deal.

Following the deal with India, China still has to forge agreements with the EU and 12 other countries before it can end its 14-year bid to join the WTO.

The European delegation, led by the commission's directorgeneral of trade Hans-Friedrich Beseler, began secretive WTO talks in Beijing on Monday.

Neither sie will give any details of the talks or their proposed schedule, but market access in China's telecommunications, especially mobile telephones, insurance and the financial sector are likely to be sticking points.ÑAFP