[House Document 107-146]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107-146
CHINA'S MEMBERSHIP IN
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A REPORT CERTIFYING THAT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE ACCESSION OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ARE AT
LEAST EQUIVALENT TO THOSE AGREED BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON NOVEMBER 15, 1999
November 13, 2001.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
In accordance with the requirements of Public Law 106-286,
I hereby transmit the attached report certifying that the terms
and conditions for the accession of the People's Republic of
China to the World Trade Organization are at least equivalent
to those agreed between the United States and the People's
Republic of China on November 15, 1999.
George W. Bush.
The White House, November 9, 2001.
Report on Certification of the Terms and Conditions for the Accession
of the People's Republic of China to the World Trade Organization
The People's Republic of China (China) is the world's
largest economy that is not yet a member and full participant
in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the international
organization responsible for overseeing the negotiation and
implementation of global trade rules. China is also the
eleventh largest export market for U.S. goods and services.
After nearly fifteen years of negotiation, China is now in a
position to become a WTO member. Based on the outcome of
China's WTO accession negotiations, I am pleased to certify
that the terms and conditions for China's accession to the WTO
are at least equivalent to those agreed between the United
States and China on November 15, 1999.
The United States welcomes China's membership in the WTO
based on the terms and conditions that we and other WTO members
endorsed in September. WTO members will meet in November and
are expected to approve those terms and conditions for China's
accession. At this same meeting, WTO members will also approve
the terms and conditions for Taiwan's accession to the WTO.
Beginning the negotiations on joining the international
trade community was an important step for China as it embarked
on a road toward economic reform, moving from a centrally-
planned economy to one with a vibrant and growing private
sector based on entrepreneurism and competition. The conclusion
of those negotiations, and the implementation of the
commitments agreed to, will accelerate and reinforce China's
reform process and create new opportunities for China's people
and for American exporters and workers.
China is reforming in many ways its laws and practices and
WTO membership will require China to provide greater access to
its economy and more openness in its society. Subjecting broad
aspects of its economy to internationally agreed trade rules
that are enforceable in the WTO will help build reliance on the
rule of law in China and have a positive effect on broader
aspects of China's society.
China's membership in the WTO will benefit the United
States through increased trade opportunities, more certainty
and predictability in our trade relationship, and China's
greater exposure to the principles of fairness and competition
that guide our economy. For Americans to realize these
benefits, however, we need to change the basis of our trade
relationship with China.
In 1980, the United States and China established normal
trade relations (NTR--then called ``most favored nation''
status) status with each other based on a bilateral trade
agreement negotiated and approved under provisions of U.S.
trade law known as the ``Jackson-Vanik Amendment.'' Each year
since then, the United States has renewed NTR status through an
annual waiver process.
On November 15, 1999, the United States and China agreed
bilaterally on terms for China's accession to the WTO. These
terms included commitments from China on market access for U.S.
exports of industrial and agricultural goods and services,
conditions under which companies could provide services in
China, and rules that eliminate trade barriers in China and
permit the United States to address imports from China that
injure U.S. industry and workers.
A strong bipartisan coalition in Congress recognized the
merits of the 1999 agreement, and enacted legislation
authorizing the President to terminate application of the
Jackson-Vanik Amendment to China and to grant products from
China permanent NTR status after he certifies that the terms
and conditions for China's WTO accession are at least
equivalent to those agreed between the United States and China
on November 15, 1999.
China has concluded bilateral agreements on its accession
to the WTO with the more than 40 Members requesting
negotiations. Multilateral negotiations on the terms and
conditions for China's accession to the WTO, involving all
interested WTO members, including the United States, concluded
in September 2001. The consolidation of the results of these
bilateral and multilateral negotiations has produced the final
China accession package that WTO members will formally consider
and approve.
All of the commitments agreed between the United States and
China in November 15, 1999 are in the terms and conditions for
China's accession to the WTO. In several respects, China's
negotiations with other WTO members and the results of the
multilateral negotiations clarify and improve the
enforceability of commitments made to the United States in
1999, provide more or faster market access than China agreed
with the United States and address important matters not
included in the U.S.-China November 1999 bilateral agreement.
China has also agreed that its central and local governments
all will honor WTO obligationsand that it will invite public
comments on its trade-related laws and regulations before they are
enforced. These additional commitments lay a strong foundation for
effective implementation of the terms for China's accession to the
WTO.\1\
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\1\ A more extensive summary of the terms and conditions of China's
accession to the WTO accompanies this certification report. In
addition, pursuant to Section 122 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act,
the U.S. Trade Representative will transmit to Congress copies of
China's WTO accession package.
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In the multilateral negotiations involving the United
States and other WTO members, China has agreed to detailed
rules on how it will implement provisions agreed to in November
1999, such as phasing-out its quotas and providing access for
agricultural products and fertilizers under tariff-rate quotas.
When other WTO members reached agreement with China on more
favorable terms for market access, the overall package
improved. Under China's WTO accession terms, Americans will
benefit from more favorable tariff cuts on products such as
orange juice and auto parts, improved access under tariff-rate
quotas, and fewer restrictions on providing legal, educational,
and other services than those agreed to in November 1999.
As a main participant in the multilateral negotiations from
their beginning in 1987, the United States recognized the need
for China to undertake systemic reforms and joined with other
WTO members in achieving this objective. China has agreed to
provide foreign governments and individuals access to its
regulatory and decision making process. Other systemic reforms,
including enhanced access to judicial review of regulatory
decisions and uniform, nondiscriminatory administration of its
laws, regulations, and other measures will help make China's
commitments on market access for U.S. products and services
more meaningful. WTO members also recognized the need to
monitor China's implementation of its commitments. China has
agreed in its accession package to a process of annual review
of the implementation of commitments. The annual review process
will supplement the dispute settlement process that will apply
to China when it becomes a WTO member.
China has undertaken important commitments requiring major
changes that some in China will resist. We will look to China
to implement all its commitments fully and are prepared to work
with China in the WTO and bilaterally to assist China's
officials in meeting those commitments. An interagency team,
including representatives of the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative and the Departments of State, Commerce, and
Agriculture, is already directing staff and other resources to
the effort of monitoring China's implementation of its
commitments. We will be working closely with Congress and the
private sector as we use all bilateral and multilateral fora to
raise and resolve issues. Moreover, we will enforce our rights
under the WTO Agreement, including China's negotiated terms of
accession, through our trade laws and through the WTO dispute
settlement process, as necessary.
China's accession to the WTO will bring the trade
relationship between our two countries to a new level. China
will now be a full participant in the international trading
system with all the rights and responsibilities that membership
entails.