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Official outlines fair trade plans for
WTO entry
China will make its foreign trade policies "unbiased
and predictable " in according with World Trade Organization
(WTO) rules that was the remark delivered by Minister Shi
Guangsheng of MOFTEC at the national working conference
on foreign trade and economic co-operation recently. Shi
noted that foreign trade officials must make preparations
for China's WTO membership in the following aspects:
l Abandon laws and regulations that run counter to WTO
rules, revise those in conflict and devise new ones in accordance
with WTO requirements and China's promises.
l Local governments must keep their foreign trade rules,
orders, directions and other measures in unity with central
government policies.
Central and local governments are required to publish foreign
trade laws and rules in nominated periodicals and listen
to opinions from all walk s of life before formal implementation.
l Adjust tariff rates and improve macro control means, technology
supports and information services to help reform domestic
industries in the transitional period immediately after
China's WTO entry.
The foreign trade minister suggested that an alarm system
and data base on imports and exports be set up to preclude
either foreign companies' dumping on domestic markets or
anti-dumping charges against Chinese companies.
l Actively prepare for a new round of multilateral trade
talks among WTO members.
l Properly deal with multilateral, bilateral and regional
trade relations on the basis of WTO rules.
l Teach officials about the WTO and its rules and train
high-quality experts in international trade, laws, negotiation
and anti-dumping.
Shi said that management of foreign trade and economic co-operation
must be based on WTO
rules. WTO entry means opening the domestic market wider,
but it does not mean the country no longer needs management
over foreign trade and economic co-operation. On the contrary,
management will be more complicated for Chinese officials
as they learn new laws and WTO rules instead of giving out
executive and administrative orders as in a planned economy.
The MOFTEC is organizing and editing a series of books on
the WTO and will try to
publish them as soon as possible after China's WTO entry.
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