| Chinese consumers want the product not the bran | ||||||
Membership of the World Trade Organization for China has taken 14 years of campaigning, and theoretically it could still be frustrated by a handful of the WTO's existing members that have yet to conclude their bilateral negotiations with Beijing. It seems almost certain, though, that the People's Republic will be joining within the next six months.
Beijing-watchers see it as a shrewd piece of political manoeuvring on the part of the Chinese government. "From a domestic political point of view, China's leadership can't be seen to be the prime mover of radical changes that will inevitably lead to job losses," explains a Beijing banker. "Joining the WTO is a very convenient way for the leadership to blame any social hardship on outside forces." Another banker says: "China needs external pressure, and the best source of external pressure is uncle Sam."