On the Complexities of China's WTO Accession

In 1996 China shared with Hong Kong the rank of fifth among the world's largest trading economies, after the EU, the US, Japan, and Canada (or if EU members are listed separately). Taiwan's trade is almost as large China's, so together with Hong Kong (which returned to China in July 1997 much of whose trade is re-exports of goods from or to China), these three economies' exports are larger than Japan's. It is therefore somewhat of a to speak of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when China and are not members. China was a founding member of the GATT in 1948, withdrew in 1950 after the formation of the People's Republic. It has been to re-join the club since 1986 but, despite 18 accession meetings during Uruguay Round and three since the WTO formed, as of mid-1997 it is still . Meanwhile, it has insisted that Taiwan should not be allowed to join China accedes.