China urged to include brokers in WTO vows

NEW YORK - Pressure is growing in the US for the government of Chinato include insurance agents and brokers in its World TradeOrganisation (WTO) commitments. In two separate letters to theChinese Ambassador to the US, the chairman and ranking member of akey House sub-committee, and the Council of Insurance Agents &Brokers (CIAB), urged China to include insurance intermediaries inthe agreement it is currently negotiating with the EuropeanCommission. They pointed out intermediaries play a vital role in thegrowth of the economy by providing the critical link between theinsurer and consumer. "We firmly believe insurance intermediaries canmake a significant contribution to the further development of theChinese insurance market by the introduction of their skill and newproducts into the market," CIAB chairman Robert Gleason said.