What were the difficulties surrounding China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)? Why has it taken the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over 15 years to join? What are the expected benefits and disadvantages of joining? What changes is WTO membership likely to bring to China’s economy in the future?
These are the question this paper will address. WTO accession by China is often seen as the most significant event about China in the last decade, even ahead of the Taiwan Independence issue, which continues to penetrate world news periodically. Since the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1978, China has been on a course of economic reform. Today, Chinese are richer than ever before in history, with the country itself having experienced extended periods of extraordinary growth.
Specifically, this report will highlight China’s first attempts to join the WTO more than 15 years ago in chapter two. Chapter three will focus on the main areas of difficulty surrounding WTO accession, while chapter four will comment on the final accession in December 2001. The expected economic advantages and disadvantages for China will be discussed in chapter five; finally, chapter six will offer a brief future outlook for China, again mainly from an economic perspective.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 China's First Attempts to Enter the WTO
- 3 Prolonged Difficulties
- 4 Final WTO Accession
- 5 Benefits and Disadvantages of WTO Membership
- 5.1 Expected Benefits from WTO Membership
- 5.2 Expected Disadvantages from WTO Membership
- 6 Future Outlook
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to examine the difficulties surrounding China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the reasons for the prolonged process, and the anticipated economic benefits and drawbacks for China following its WTO membership. The analysis focuses on the impact on the Chinese economy, considering both positive and negative consequences.
- China's protracted negotiation process for WTO accession.
- The major obstacles and challenges faced by China during its WTO application.
- The potential economic advantages of WTO membership for China.
- The potential economic disadvantages of WTO membership for China.
- The future economic outlook for China in a post-WTO context.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by outlining the central research questions: the difficulties surrounding China's accession to the WTO, the reasons for the lengthy process (over 15 years), the expected benefits and drawbacks of membership, and the likely impact on China's economy. It highlights the significance of China's WTO accession as a landmark event, contextualizing it within China's economic reforms since the end of the Cultural Revolution and the role of the WTO in global market liberalization. The chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding both the potential gains (access to foreign markets, combating economic entrenchment) and potential challenges associated with China's integration into the global trading system.
2 China's First Attempts to Enter the WTO: This chapter would detail China's initial attempts to join the WTO, likely covering the historical context, the initial applications, and the early responses from the WTO and other member nations. It would explore the political and economic climate surrounding these early attempts, analyzing the reasons why China's initial bids were unsuccessful or faced significant hurdles. This would lay the groundwork for understanding the complexities and challenges that characterized the later stages of China's accession process.
3 Prolonged Difficulties: This chapter would delve into the specific difficulties that prolonged China's accession to the WTO. It would likely analyze the major sticking points in the negotiations, including disagreements over market access, intellectual property rights, and state-owned enterprises. The chapter would likely explore the political and economic factors that contributed to these protracted negotiations, examining the interplay between domestic Chinese policies and international trade rules.
4 Final WTO Accession: This chapter would describe the events leading up to China's final accession to the WTO in December 2001. It would discuss the compromises reached, the concessions made by China and other WTO members, and the final agreements that paved the way for China's entry. The chapter would likely analyze the significance of this event, highlighting its implications for both the Chinese economy and the global trading system.
5 Benefits and Disadvantages of WTO Membership: This chapter would analyze the expected economic benefits and drawbacks of WTO membership for China. The benefits might include increased market access for Chinese exports, foreign direct investment inflows, and technological advancements. Conversely, the drawbacks might include increased competition from foreign firms, the need for structural reforms in certain sectors, and potential job losses in some industries. The chapter would weigh these potential benefits and costs, offering a balanced perspective on the overall economic impact of WTO accession.
6 Future Outlook: This chapter would provide a brief future outlook for the Chinese economy in a post-WTO environment. It would likely project the potential economic growth trajectories, considering both the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for China. It might discuss the anticipated changes in various sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and how China would navigate the complexities of increased international competition and integration.
Keywords
China, World Trade Organization (WTO), accession, international trade, economic reform, market liberalization, benefits, disadvantages, economic impact, global trade, state-owned enterprises, intellectual property rights, market access, future outlook, post-WTO China.
China's Accession to the WTO: A Comprehensive Overview - FAQ
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), covering its history, challenges, benefits, drawbacks, and future implications for the Chinese economy.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The Table of Contents includes: Introduction, China's first WTO accession attempts, Prolonged difficulties in the accession process, Final WTO accession, Benefits and disadvantages of WTO membership (broken down into expected benefits and expected disadvantages), and Future outlook.
What are the key objectives and themes of this analysis?
The analysis aims to examine the difficulties surrounding China's WTO accession, the reasons for its prolonged nature, and the anticipated economic benefits and drawbacks for China. It focuses on the impact on the Chinese economy, considering both positive and negative consequences.
What are the major challenges China faced during its WTO accession process?
The document highlights major obstacles such as disagreements over market access, intellectual property rights, and the role of state-owned enterprises. It also explores the political and economic factors contributing to the protracted negotiations.
What were the expected benefits of China's WTO membership?
Expected benefits included increased market access for Chinese exports, increased foreign direct investment, and technological advancements.
What were the potential drawbacks of China's WTO membership?
Potential drawbacks included increased competition from foreign firms, the necessity for structural reforms in certain sectors, and potential job losses in some industries.
What is the significance of China's WTO accession?
China's WTO accession is presented as a landmark event, contextualized within China's economic reforms and the global market liberalization promoted by the WTO. The document emphasizes understanding both potential gains and challenges associated with China's integration into the global trading system.
What does the document say about the future economic outlook for China post-WTO accession?
The future outlook section projects potential economic growth trajectories, considering both opportunities and challenges. It discusses anticipated changes in various sectors and how China would navigate increased international competition and integration.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: China, World Trade Organization (WTO), accession, international trade, economic reform, market liberalization, benefits, disadvantages, economic impact, global trade, state-owned enterprises, intellectual property rights, market access, future outlook, post-WTO China.
What information is included in each chapter summary?
Each chapter summary provides a concise overview of the content and focus of the corresponding chapter, outlining the key arguments and analyses presented. They highlight the historical context, challenges, negotiations, and implications for each stage of China's WTO accession.
Who is the intended audience for this document?
The document is intended for academic use, focusing on analyzing themes in a structured and professional manner.
- Quote paper
- Ben Beiske (Author), 2003, The difficulties surrounding China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, and the likely impacts on China’s economy in post-WTO China, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/15451
