China and the World Trade Organization

China's attempt to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) appears at this writing not to have been greatly advanced by President Clinton's June 1998 trip to Beijing. Anecdotal evidence from informed observers suggests that China is not likely to become a member of the for at least another year. The current financial turmoil in Asia is already causing much concern in China; entering the at this time might only magnify this anxiety over the country's economic stability. When China finally gains admission to the WTO, the world is not likely to see China adjust its behavior as readily as any agreement requires. We argue here that present practices of concern to the are deeply embedded in institutional conditions that do not lend themselves to change and will significantly retard the actual implementation of terms. One suspects that the major problems that have caused the negotiations to continue so long have been problems largely because the Chinese themselves recognize how difficult it will be for the society to change long-standing practices. Regardless of the transition's exact nature, it is useful to review at least the aforementioned problems because they are likely to plague the scene in some residual form after China enters the WTO. The institutional setting is such, we will argue, that China will have difficulty adjusting to what one might call the WTO world. Everyone interested in trade with and investment in China should probably be prepared to find that China will be slow to move into conformity with standards, no matter what Beijing may actually agree to do. In this paper we will explore the reasons for these expectations

Assimilation (phonology · Business · China · International trade · Political science · World trade · Global trade and economics · Law

• The Evolution of China's Engagement with International Governmental Organizations

  Justin S Hempson-Jones, Justin Hempson-Jones•Asian Survey•2005

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