Chinese govt issues first-of-a-kind white paper addressing WTO commitments

China has comprehensively honored its commitments since becoming a member of the WTO in 2001, and the country has now become an important “contributor and maintainer” of WTO rules, from simply being a follower in the beginning to a participator today, a Chinese official said on Thursday, providing further explanations about a new white paper titled China and the WTO.

The white paper, which was released on June 28 by the State Council, China’s cabinet, gives a full account of China’s fulfillment of its WTO commitments and stresses China’s support for the global organization. It is the first such white paper issued by China.

“China comprehensively fulfilled its tariff reduction commitment as of 2010 and the country has also opened up wider and expanded market access for foreign investment during the past 17 years,” Hong Xiaodong, director general of the Department of WTO Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said at a press briefing on Thursday.

The country also firmly upholds the multilateral trading system, and the newly released negative list that widens foreign investors’ access to the domestic market is a good example, Hong added.

Commenting on the white paper, Elizabeth Peak, business counsellor of the Australian Embassy in Beijing, said at the press briefing that “Australia agrees that China has made great achievements since its accession to the WTO 17 years ago, and China’s involvement in the WTO has been a great contribution to the multilateral trading system.”

She also took note of various free trade agreements China has facilitated, including the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

Ambassador of Argentina to China Diego Ramiro Guelar also said at the press briefing that the release of the white paper is very critical given the USChina trade row.

China is willing to work with other nations to safeguard WTO rules and disputes settlement mechanism, said Hong.