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US-China relations
EconomyChina Economy

China’s former trade chief hits out at ‘groundless’ claims country cannot join CPTPP

  • Long Yongtu, who negotiated China’s entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO), says presence of Singapore and Vietnam in Pacific trade pact is good sign for China
  • Long hopes a push to join CPTPP will lead to more domestic reform in China’s state-owned enterprises

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Long Yongtu, Beijing’s former No 1 trade official, says China could meet entry requirements to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Photo: Yujing Liu
Finbarr Bermingham

Beijing’s former top trade negotiator has dismissed as “groundless” claims that China would not meet strict criteria to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in the long term.

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President Xi Jinping said two weeks ago the country was “actively considering” joining the formerly American-backed trade pact, setting off debate as to whether China would meet its terms of entry, including on state-owned enterprises (SOEs), labour rights and e-commerce.

Long Yongtu, who helped negotiate China’s entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO), pointed to the strong state sectors of current member nations to suggest China, should it “accelerate SOE reform”, could also become eligible for the Pacific Rim trade pact abandoned by Donald Trump in his first week in office.

Vietnam and Singapore, they also have very strong state-owned industries, if they can meet the terms of CPTPP, why not China?
Long Yongtu

“People say that China cannot meet the terms of CPTPP, but I think this is groundless,” said Long, speaking exclusively via video link at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference on Wednesday.

“Vietnam and Singapore, they also have very strong state-owned industries, if they can meet the terms of CPTPP, why not China?” Long asked, saying there was already “very strong” reform under way in China.

Long spent 11 years as director general of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, a precursor to the Ministry of Commerce, working on China’s entry to the WTO. He is described as one of the more reform-minded figures advising the Chinese government and is a long-time advocate of China joining the CPTPP.

Long hoped a push to meet the terms of the CPTPP could have a similarly transformative effect on the Chinese economy as its WTO accession did.
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