WTO Web site UN Web site Search Shi Tao Illegally providing state secrets November 23, 2014 HRIC Trends Bulletin on "China's Environment and Situation of Water" HRIC Statement for Tibetan Uprising Day: "March 10: Out of Exile, Into the Streets!" Where's Hu Now?: Let your voice be heard on Hu Jintao's U.S. visit HRIC Comments on HR 4780: Global Online Freedom Act of 2006 Li Zhi Appellate Ruling: English translation HRIC Testimony to "Monitoring Respect for Human Rights" Articles Alert: Feb 2006 HRIC Trends Bulletin: Media Crackdowns in China HRIC Testimony to "Internet in China" Congressional Hearing		Change text size Print this page WTO: A Brief Overview of China's Accession On December 11, 2001, China was formally admitted into the WTO, the core of the current global trade regime. The stated objective of the WTO is the liberalization of trade through the elimination of trade restrictions to permit markets to function free of state interference. Yet, the WTO regime is in fact a highly regulated system of rules, sanctions, and safeguards negotiated through the perceived geo-political and economic self-interest of its members. In July of 1986, China re-applied for admission to GATT.[1] Over a fifteen-year period, China negotiated with the GATT—later WTO—Working Party over three main aspects: the provision by China of information on its trade regime; bilateral negotiations between China and each interested WTO member; and overlapping multilateral negotiations with the WTO Working Party. The most trade-liberalizing concessions and commitments reached through the bilateral negotiations were then consolidated and applied to all WTO members. On November 10, 2001, the Doha Ministerial Conference formally approved China's Accession Protocol, the Working Party Report, the consolidated market access schedules for goods and services, and other annexes necessary for accession. The Working Party Report also includes the identification of member concerns, pledges of WTO members to China, and China's explanation of its trade practices and background facts. // ENDNOTES [1] China had been an original member of the organization in 1948. After the Chinese revolution of 1949, the government of Taiwan withdrew from the organization. Taiwan was granted observer status in 1965, but this status was removed in 1971 following UN recognition of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate government of China. In April of 1986, Hong Kong as a British Crown Colony became a GATT member. However, following resumption of sovereignty by China in 1997, Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region of China. On November 11, 2001, one month before the PRC was granted official membership, the WTO Ministerial Conference approved the accession of the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)"—or Taiwan. See Press Release, World Trade Org., WTO Ministerial Conference approves accession of Chinese Taipei, at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres01_e/pr253_e.htm. //
Copyright © 2006 Human Rights in China. All rights reserved. Disclaimer  /   hrichina[a]hrichina.org  /   www.hrichina.org