The WTO Transparency Obligations and China

The Journal of Comparative Law, 2018, 12 (2), 329-355

28 Pages Posted: 17 Nov 2017 Last revised: 5 Mar 2018

See all articles by Henry S. Gao

Henry S. Gao

Singapore Management University - Yong Pung How School of Law

Date Written: November 15, 2017

Abstract

When it acceded to the WTO in 2001, China accepted comprehensive transparency obligations as well as substantive commitments covering both market access and rules issues. Initially designed to deal with the opaque trade law regime, the transparency obligations were also expected to help democratize the legislative process and promote the development of the rule of law in China. Now that more than 15 years have passed, have the transparency obligations fulfilled their original promises? This article answers the question by reviewing how the transparency obligations have worked in practice. It notes that, while transparency has improved in some areas, it is still lacking in other areas. The article discusses the reasons for the uneven progress, and concludes with some advice on how transparency may be further enhanced.

Keywords: WTO, China, Transparency, Notifications

Suggested Citation

Gao, Henry S., The WTO Transparency Obligations and China (November 15, 2017). The Journal of Comparative Law, 2018, 12 (2), 329-355, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3071676 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3071676

Henry S. Gao (Contact Author)

Singapore Management University - Yong Pung How School of Law ( email )

55 Armenian Street
Singapore, 179943
Singapore

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.smu.edu.sg/faculty/law/henrygao.asp

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