China welcomes the United States Trade Representative's decision
not to accept a Section 301 petition on Chinese workers' rights,
according to a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce on
Wednesday.
The Chinese government has always maintained that issues
concerning China and the US should be settled through cooperation
and dialogue, spokesman Chong Quan said, adding that since 2004 the
two sides have developed fruitful cooperation in protecting labor
rights and interests.
Chong said that policies that protect labor rights and interests
in line with the reality of China are beneficial to the country's
harmonious development.
China advocates consultation and cooperation in tackling Sino-US
trade issues, in line with basic principles of development,
equality and mutual benefit.
On June 8, 2006 the American Federation of Labor and Congress of
Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) filed a petition requesting the
USTR to launch a one-year Section 301 investigation of workers'
rights in China.
The Office of the USTR announced on July 21 that the USTR had
decided not to accept the petition.
(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2006)