China and the World Trade Organization: The First Decade

Abstract

By the end of 2011, China will have been a member of the World Trade Organization (the WTO) for a decade. While China has undergone dramatic changes to implement commitments contained in its Protocol of Accession, debate continues as to whether China has adequately complied with its obligations under the WTO Agreements in both letter and spirit. Some of this debate remains in the political arena, where China is censured over such issues as currency controls and or equality of access for foreign firms like Google; however, it is in the legal arena, and specifically within the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body, that some of the most controversial issues are raised, both against and by China. This article analyses China's record of disputes in the WTO since its accession in 2001.

Keywords: China, WTO, World Trade Organization, international trade law, international economic law, dispute settlement understanding

JEL Classification: K33