(Letter from President Clinton to Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ)

Dear Senator Kyl:

Thank you for your letter regarding Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). My administration remains firmly committed to the goal of WTO General Council approval of the accession packages for China and Taiwan at the same session. This goal is widely shared by other key WTO members.

China has made clear on many occasions, and at high levels, that it will not oppose Taiwan's accession to the WTO. Nevertheless, China did submit proposed language to their working party stating that Taiwan is a separate customs territory of China. We have advised the Chinese that such language is inappropriate and irrelevant to the work of the working party and that we will not accept it. We believe that this position is widely shared by other WTO members.

Again, thank you for writing concerning this important matter.

                                                                               Sincerely,

                                                                               Bill Clinton

The Honorable Jon Kyl

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510