China's ten years in the WTO: review and perspectives
| Pages | 53-69 |
| Published date | 17 June 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCEFTS-04-2013-0017 |
| Date | 17 June 2013 |
| Author | Huijiong Wang,Shantong Li,Qi Wang |
| Subject Matter | Economics,International economics |
China’s ten years in the WTO:
review and perspectives
Huijiong Wang and Shantong Li
Development Research Center of the State Council, Beijing, China, and
Qi Wang
Gallaudet University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to review four studies which are selected purposefully to outline as
objectively as possible the many aspects of lessons, experiences, achievements, and areas in need of
further reform in China’s ten years’ accession into WTO.
Design/methodology/approach – Different views from leading academic and official publications
are presented. In addition, the authors contribute their own perspectives on some issues not fully
discussed in the literature.
Findings – It is hoped that the successful lessons and experiences from China’s remarkable WTO
track record can benefit other developing countries and transitional economies seeking economic
growth and prosperity by engaging in open trade and operating by rules.
Originality/value – This paper will contribute to the current understanding about China’s WTO
experience by reviewing relevant literature and adding new perspectives on some issues not fully
discussed in the literature.
Keywords Internationaltrade,China’s accession intoWTO, China’s economicreform, Economic growth,
SOEs, Service sector,China
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
The primary purpose for the World Trade Organization (WTO) is to open trade for the
benefits of all. Since its accession to WTO in 2001, China has experienced remarkable
economic growth with an average annual growth rate of around 10.5 percent GDP in
the past ten years and has moved itself up from the original sixth position to the second
on the world largest exporters’ rank. This has served as a linchpin for global trade,
benefiting exporters of commodities such as Australia as well as exporters of capital
goods such as Germany and Japan. This shows clearly the role contributed by WTO
and the benefits of open trade. China’s reform process has also been benefited from its
accession into WTO.
There are several systematic studies summarizing the lessons and experience of
China’s ten years in the WTO both in China and abroad. This paper will contribu te to
the current understanding about China’s WTO experience by reviewing relevant
literature and adding new perspectives on some issues not fully discussed in the
literature. This paper is organized into two main parts: Part I will provide a brief
review of four selected publications, two in Chinese and two by international
organizations. It aims at providing English readers with the essential information
about China’s ten years in WTO. Part II will provide some analysis of selected issues
not fully addressed in the publications from the perspective of the authors. Brief
concluding remarks are provided in the end.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1754-4408.htm
Journal of Chinese Economic and
Foreign Trade Studies
Vol. 6 No. 2, 2013
pp. 53-69
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1754-4408
DOI 10.1108/JCEFTS-04-2013-0017
China’s ten years
in the WTO
53
Part I. Review of selected publications related to China and WTO
1.1 Choice of publications and approach of review
1. Choice of publications. Four publications are chosen for review on “China’s 10 years in
the WTO.” The first document (referred as Study 1 in this paper) is “Chapter 4: China’s 10
years in the WTO: sustaining openness-based growth into the future” (Kowabski et al.,
2012) in an OECD publication (China in Focus: Lessons and Challenges 2012). This
literature has given a very concise description and analysis of China’s ten years in the
WTO within 20 pages of coverage. The second one (referred as Study 2 in the paper)
chosen is a book in Chinese, titled (China: Ten Years After WTO Accession) (Wang,
2012). This book is comprised of various research reports of an organized research with
team members from Chinese ministries, research institutions, and academic fields at
both central and local levels. Study 1 was translated into Chinese and included in the
book. It has a broad coverage of studies ranging from macro-economy, foreign trade and
investment, sectorial economy (agriculture, industry, finance, energy, etc.), strategy on
intellectual property rights (IPR), establishment of social security system, regional
economic cooperation (RTA) to local economic development of China. The third
literature (referred as Study 3 in the paper) is (China: WTO Yearbook 2011) (Liu, 2011),
published in Chinese and by China Society for WTO Studies, a quasi-governmental
organization attached to China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC). The fourth document
(referred as Study 4 in the paper) is (Trade Policy Review Report by the Secretariat: China)
(WTO, 2012a). The first two pieces of literature are more academic in nature while the
last two represent more of government official views. To simplify the presentation, the
above four publications will be referred as Studies 1-4 hereafter.
2. Approach of review. Approach of this review will follow four principles: selective,
introductory, comparative and supplementary. The first two will be the primary
approach:
(1) Selective. The four studies chosen for review have different depth and breadth,
represent different perspectives from academic, and research to government
and international organization official views. Study 1 is selected for review as it
has covered the theme precisely on lessons and experience of China’s ten years
in the WTO. Selected Chapters and parts of Study 2 (published in Chinese) to be
reviewed will provide essential information not covered in Study 1 for English
readers. Selected topics from the four studies that seem to be major conce rns
currently both in and outside China will be analyzed and discussed by the
authors in Part II of this paper.
(2) Introductory. Studies 2-4 have very broad coverage, review of these studies will
be introductory and selective in nature. Study 4 represents an official review on
China’s Trade Policy by Secretariat of WTO. It is selected for review on major
perspectives from WTO to China’s trade regime and policies. But it can only
be introductory in nature due to huge volume of this study, i.e. review will be
implemented in a general way, introduce the main content and headings of
chapters and sections, present necessary comments on certain subjects, etc.
similar approach will also be applied to Studies 2 and 3 supplemented with
selective studies of specific topics.
(3) Review sequence. Studies 1-4 will be reviewed in order in the coming sections.
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