O que mudou na China depois de aderir

agost21

On July 1, China declared that it has reached its first centenary development goal - building a moderately prosperous society, or xiaokang, in all respects and is marching in confident strides toward the second centennial goal of building the nation into a great modern socialist country. To decipher what that means in the context of where China is now and where it's heading, the Global Times is publishing a series of multimedia products about the achievements under the xiaokang goal in various aspects. This piece focuses on how China's reform and opening-up policies overcame major hurdles and risks over the years and helped create the "China miracle" that changed the country and the world.

In 1978, China's trade volume was only $20.64 billion, accounting for 0.77 percent of the world's total, which is almost negligible. Today, China has become the world's largest trading nation and the largest export market for more than 70 countries and regions.Looking back on the historic moment in Doha years ago, Huo Jianguo, then a member of the Chinese delegation and now vice president of the China WTO Research Association, is still very excited to this day. Huo, who has experienced the entire process of entry into WTO, said that the negotiations lasted for a long time. In 1984, the country had already started discussing whether to resume the status of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; in 1986, China formally submitted the application; and then entered into the negotiations, which lasted 15 years. The opening-up in the financial sector and the arrangement of the import of some commodities related to people's livelihood may have been the most difficult aspects. On the one hand, we had to consider domestic competitiveness, on the other hand, we had to think about the phased opening, Huo told the Global Times

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202108/1231304.shtml

jul21

What benefits did China get as a newly-minted WTO

Member? Many commentators point to lower tariffs at the

MFN rate and the removal of non-tariff measures. In my view,

however, both of these benefits have been greatly exaggerated.

First, even before its accession, China had signed bilateral

trade agreements with most of its trade partners, which

typically included MFN clauses granting China the same MFN

rates as under other agreements,36 including the WTO. Studies

confirm that larger gains were reaped by China’s import

industries while its exporting industries only saw modest

gains.37 Second, non-tariff barriers were a big problem before

China’s accession, but rather than being eliminated, they have

largely been retained and even entrenched by China’s

accession deal.38 Instead, I would argue that the biggest direct

benefits resulting from China’s WTO accession are its abilities

to use the WTO dispute settlement system and to participate

in the rule-making efforts of the multilateral trading system.

However, both benefits are also double-edged swords that

could be used by and against China at the same time.39

While the direct benefits to China seem uncertain, the

indirect benefits appear to be quite substantial, especially

considering the phenomenal growth of China’s trade and

economy since its accession. This is because China’s WTO

accession has helped China to be further integrated into the

world economy and become a key node in the global supply

chain.

On the other hand, the price that China had to pay to

get into the club seems rather hefty. First of all, China made

substantive market access commitments on both goods and

services. For goods, China agreed to reduce its overall tariff

level from a basic point of 43% before the accession to 10%

by 2005, making it one of the lowest levels in the world.40 For

services, China also made extensive commitments, covering

more than 100 out of the total of 160 services sectors

enumerated in the Services Sectoral Classification List.41 Such

a level of commitment is on par with that of major developed

countries and was regarded as “the most radical services

reform program negotiated in the WTO.”

In other words, it was widely believed that the WTO

would help to transform China from Communism to

Capitalism, with more freedom to the people, in both economic and political spheres. This was to be achieved

through the policy of “engagement,” which was adopted by

successive U.S. administrations from Clinton to Obama.135

However, as time went by, the United States realized

that Communism not only did not retreat, but also further

advanced in China, with the state-owned economy growing

stronger and the rule of the Party further entrenched in the

process.136 It was this disillusion over the transformative

power of the multilateral trading system that led to the

exploration of other means to help effect change in China.

Initially, President Obama tried to build a “coalition of the

willing” with the launch of the TPP negotiations in 2010,

which included rules on SOEs, competitions, labor,

government procurement and digital trade, all designed to

address the challenges of China’s state capitalism. When

President Trump came into office, however, the TPP deal was

scrapped as he believed it was “disaster” that is bad for

American business and workers.137 Instead, President Trump

resorted to another tool which he deemed more direct and

effective: a trade war.

China, which started as a pariah state that rarely traded with

the rest of the world, has not only re-integrated itself into the

world economy, but also grown to be the largest trader in the

world. At the time of China’s accession to the WTO, pundits

hailed the event as a historic triumph of capitalism that marked

the end of history.159 Nineteen years after China’s accession,

however, most observers are left with mixed feelings, as the success of China’s economic and trade development has led to

unexpected consequences both within and beyond China. In

particular, these problems are most vividly reflected in the

U.S.-China trade war, which is still ongoing at the time of this

writing.

HENRY GAO

jul21

Ao aceder à OMC, a China aderiu aos princípios da Organização, tais como livre

comércio, princípio da nação mais favorecida, tratamento nacional e transparência, conforme

estabelecido no preâmbulo da maior parte dos acordos vigentes tanto na OMC, quanto no

GATT/47.

Isso significa que todos os bens devem estar sujeitos às mesmas regras para

comercialização interna, principalmente as relativas à oferta, venda, compra, transporte,

distribuição, uso e acesso aos consumidores finais.

De acordo com o disposto na cláusula 3 do Protocolo23, empresas e indivíduos

estrangeiros, incluindo aqueles sem estabelecimento comercial ou residência na China, devem

receber um tratamento tão favorável quanto aquele concedido às empresas chinesas com

relação ao direito ao comércio.

O último Trade Police Review da China24, apesar de ressaltar os esforços realizados

pelo governo chinês para se adequar às normas multilaterais, expressou a preocupação de

diversos membros com a dificuldade da China em seguir os princípios da OMC, em especial o

da transparência e o do tratamento nacional. Nesse sentido, Suíça, União Europeia (UE),

EUA, Japão e Noruega enfatizaram a necessidade da China de intensificar seus esforços para

coibir práticas discriminatórias, principalmente no que se refere à atuação do governo.

O país se comprometeu a liberalizar progressivamente o direito ao comércio, de forma

que, no prazo de três anos contado da sua acessão, todas as empresas chinesas poderiam

comercializar quaisquer bens e serviços. Exceção é feita aos bens listados no Anexo 2 do

Protocolo, que continuam sob monopólio estatal e passaram a ser regulados conforme aquele

documento25. O direito a comercializar, neste contexto, deve ser entendido como o direito de

importar e de exportar bens.

O Protocolo também determina que a China faça as alterações legislativas necessárias

internamente, para que estas mudanças possam ser implementadas na prática. Os dirigentes

chineses iniciaram então um processo de verificação da legislação comercial, a fim de

averiguar sua conformidade com o direito da OMC. Durante essa análise, algumas leis foram

revogadas, outras emendadas e, ainda, novos dispositivos foram criados.

Percebe-se, assim, a ocorrência da globalização do direito, caracterizada pela

conformidade e pela harmonização de regulações internas com normas e preceitos acordados

em nível multilateral. Entretanto, o referido Estado de direito seria desenvolvido de fora para

dentro, porquanto não seria acompanhado de avanços democráticos e legitimação popular,

mas seria alcançado por meio da internacionalização da economia chinesa27.

Para se adequar às exigências mencionadas, a China passou a adotar certos

procedimentos mais específicos, com impacto direto na organização interna. Além de anular

leis locais incompatíveis com a OMC, o governo passou a restringir o poder autônomo das

províncias de criar normas comerciais, de modo a garantir a segurança e previsibilidade

jurídica em um sistema administrativo e legislativo considerado prolixo.

A corrupção está cada vez mais presente na sociedade chinesa, apesar de não ser

exclusividade do país. Esse fenômeno, que se traduz na perda de poder do Partido sobre

alguns aspectos da política local, com a relativa autonomia legislativa das assembleias

populares33, incita as práticas protecionistas regionais e compromete a aplicação uniforme do

A alta taxa de crescimento da China após a sua entrada na OMC foi favorecida por

uma série de fatores. A transferência do excedente de mão-de-obra do setor agrícola, de baixa

produtividade, para os setores secundários e terciários da economia, de alta produtividade, é o

principal deles39. Este fenômeno resultou no aumento da população urbana, de 37,7% em

2001, para 52% em 201340

Ao lado do crescimento do comércio exterior, a China transformou-se no maior

receptor de investimentos estrangeiros diretos em 2012. O afluxo de capitais totalizou

US$253 bilhões, o que corresponde a 18% do total de investimentos estrangeiros diretos

mundialmente realizados no período41 A China e a Organização Mundial do Comércio Dalbert Peres

jul21

When China was admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, it was a $1 billion market. Today, it’s $25 billion. Besides the trade war, U.S. agricultural exports to China have increased year over year. https://www.thecattlesite.com/news/57106/usda-outlook-forum-uschina-trade-prospects-a-shortterm-outlook/ 

jul21

The membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and reforms initiated in China following the death of leader Mao Zedong are usually classified as the headway to China’s rapid integration into the world economy. Some believe that China's one party-system has also played an important role in such achievements. Beyond the ideology, the Communist Party of China (CCP) has revealed the capabilities and talents of Chinese people and invested in mostly the right moves over the last several decades. https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/should-turkey-follow-chinas-footsteps-in-progress 

jul21

"We’ve seen this movie before in the Clinton administration," Hagerty told Fox News in an interview. "We allowed China into the WTO [World Trade Organization]. The thought back then: ‘Let’s expose China to our market economy, let’s give them the opportunity to see how we behave, let’s be conciliatory to China, let’s look the other way, and eventually they’ll behave in a more rational, more market-like fashion’. "That is not the China that exists," he added. "We’ve got to take the world as it is, not as we wish it would be." https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-senator-says-china-wont-ever-behave-in-rational-fashion-slams-liberal-groups-for-wishful-thinking

jun21

The Communist Party of China (CPC) is about to celebrate its centenary. Over the past one hundred years, the CPC has rallied and led the Chinese people to embark on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics that suits China and has strong support from the Chinese people. Such endeavors have benefited not only the Chinese people, but also the whole world. China has lifted over 700 million people out of poverty, contributing over 70 percent of the global poverty reduction. In the last 20 years after joining the WTO, China has fully honored its commitments upon the accession, and expanded its opening-up. China has contributed nearly 30 percent of global growth on annual average. At trying times such as the international financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, China never gives up solidarity and partnership with other countries. China is ready to work with all parties for the success of the Rome Summit and toward building a community with a shared future for mankind! Remarks by H.E. Wang YiState Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China At the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Beijing, 29 June 2021. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_662805/t1888054.shtml

jun21

China’s accession to the WTO in 2001 fundamentally changed the country and the global trading landscape. The price it had to pay at the time was that its commitments went beyond those of existing WTO members and others acceding to the trading body.

It’s not just China but modern global commerce that has outgrown the rules. Many of the issues under contention are in areas where rules do not exist. The lack of multilateral investment rules, for example, leaves open accusations of forced technology transfer, debt trap diplomacy and unfair competition.

The WTO needs broad support, if not consensus, to reform and rewrite its rules. The G7 needs China and the other half of the world to play ball to renovate the global trading system. The EAF Editorial Board is located in the Crawford School of Public Policy, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/06/14/global-governance-reform-needs-leadership-from-the-developing-world/

jun21

"The WTO welcomed new members like China and Russia, expecting increasing “socialisation” and progressive convergence. The organisation was ill-prepared (in terms of norms, narratives, or legal instruments) to manage a world where interdependence—those very ties that were supposed to bind diverse countries into a peaceful and prosperous global society—might be “weaponised.”(...) Within the purview of the WTO, states were also becoming aware of the possibilities and risks that the securitisation of trade posed. In 2009, for instance, the European Union, the United States, and Mexico launched the first in a series of complaints against China on its restrictions of certain strategic raw materials (including rare earth minerals) that are essential for key industries including smartphones and computers.^[14] State-owned enterprises and subsidies in China showed a mixing of public and private power that was an anomaly to the rules-based system of free and fair markets that the liberal order had envisaged; it was, however, a good illustration of the exercise of state power on and via the private sector, along the lines outlined by the model of weaponised interdependence.

The WTO was able to do little to regulate these trends. The worldview that it embodied had assumed the virtues of interdependence; global value chains, from this perspective, were an achievement to be lauded and furthered, not resisted. The system also had an implicit assumption of some like-mindedness and shared goals among states. Recall that most countries of the Eastern bloc had not been contracting parties to the GATT. That new members would not converge with former members on liberal values was not a possibility that the WTO had envisaged when China joined it, let alone that the WTO framework could be gamed by a potential “systemic rival”.^[15] https://www.orfonline.org/research/holding-up-a-mirror-to-the-world-trade-organization-lessons-from-the-covid-19-pandemic/

mai21

hile enjoying the benefits brought about by the multilateral trading system, China has become the largest contributor since its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, said Yi Xiaozhun, former deputy director-general of the WTO on May 14. Yi, also former negotiator for China’s entry into the WTO, analyzed China’s import performances over the past two decades based on WTO data and recognized the role the country plays in boosting the world economy and facilitating global trade. WTO statistics show that China’s total imports of goods increased sixfold over the past 20 years. Most recently in 2020, its imports of goods accounted for around 12% of the world’s total. Meanwhile, the country’s imports of services increased from 3.3% of the global total in 2005 to 8% in 2020. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/china-largest-contributor-to-multilateral-trading-system-ex-wto-official/

 mai21
The country is widely regarded as a major beneficiary of globalisation. Its accession to the WTO in 2001 sparked China’s economic resurgence, effectively turning it into the world’s factory and eventually its second-largest economy.
But China has also been criticised by the US and other developed nations for its subsidies and preferential treatment of domestic industries, creating an uneven playing field for foreign firms trying to do business there. https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3133534/chinas-wto-reform-aspirations-take-centre-stage-globalisation-seminar

maio21

After joining WTO, China has made multiple changes on export tax rebates, including the overall adjustment on export tax rebates and the expansion on the scope of export tax refund.

According to Circular on VAT and Consumption Tax Policies for Export Goods and Services (Caishui[2012]No.39), VAT shall be exempted for manufacturing enterprises exporting self-produced goods or deemed self-produced goods and providing processing, repairing, and replacement labor services. VAT shall also be exempted for selected enterprises listed in the circular when exporting non-self-produced goods. The relevant input VAT shall be deducted from the VAT payable and the rest of unreduced portions shall be refunded. This significantly expand the scope of export tax rebates.

https://www.china-briefing.com/news/export-tax-rebates-in-china-recent-changes-and-risk-management/