China WTO Accession

China WTO Accession

China’s Entry To The World Trade Organization Will Slash Barriers To The Sale Of American Agricultural Products In The World’s Most Populous Country

Photo of Chinese meat inspection
A Chinese official inspects a shipment of meat that arrived in China last month

China’s entry into the WTO will dramatically cut import barriers currently imposed on American agricultural products. This agreement locks in and expands our access to a market of over one billion people. China’s economy is already among the world’s largest and over the past 20 years has expanded at a phenomenal rate of nearly 10 percent per year. During this period, U.S. total exports to China have grown from negligible levels to about $14 billion a year. Agricultural exports in fiscal year 2000 were nearly $1.7 billion.

Press Releases

Annual USTR Report to Congress Finds Mixed Record by China in Implementing World Trade Organization Obligations (12/11/06)
- 2006 Report to Congress on China's WTO Compliance
U.S. Welcomes China Pledges on Market Access, IPR Enforcement (04/16/06)
Johanns Signs Agreement With China On Food Safety And Plant And Animal Health (04/11/06)
USDA and China Agree to Further Cooperation on Food Safety and Animal and Plant Health (04/22/04)
-- Letter of Intent Between U.S. and China
USTR Zoellick Visits China: U.S. Trade Interests, WTO Implementation Top Agenda (10/20/03)
Trade Policy Staff Committee Public Hearing concerning China's compliance with its WTO commitments re-scheduled for Friday, October 3, 2003 (09/30/03)
Background Information on China's Accession to the World Trade Organization (12/11/2001)
Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman on Progress in China's WTO Accession Talks (September 17, 2001)
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick Welcomes Developments on China's WTO Accession (September 17, 2001)
WTO Successfully Concludes Negotiations on China's Entry (September 17, 2001)
Please replace the paragraph under Agriculture in this WTO press release with the following: China agreed to a de minimis level under Article 6.4 of the Agriculture Agreement of 8.5 percent of its total value of agriculture production for non-product specific support and 8.5 percent of its total value of agriculture production for product specific support. In addition, China agreed to include any support provided under Article 6.2 (input and investment subsidies) in its calculation of its Aggregate Measurement of Support. Therefore, China agreed to forego the developing country exemption for policies under Article 6.2.

Agriculture Fact Sheets

		U.S.-China WTO Accession Deal: A Strong Deal in the Best Interests of U.S. Agriculture
		What's at Stake for Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables? What's at Stake for Tree Nuts? What's at Stake for Corn? What's at Stake for Beef? What's at Stake for Dairy? What's at Stake for Cotton? What's at Stake for Oilseeds and Products? What's at Stake for Wood and Wood Products? What's at Stake for Wheat? What's at Stake for Pork? What's at Stake for Poultry? What’s at Stake for Citrus?
		Agriculture - General
		Cotton Dairy Distribution Services Distilled Spirits, Wine and Beer Fish Grains Meats Oilseeds Sanitary and Phytosanitary Barriers Specialty Crops (Vegetables, Nuts, Citrus, Other Fruit and Other Products) State-Owned and State-Invested Enterprises Textiles and Apparel Textiles: Special Safeguards Wood

Other China Information

FAS Worldwide/AgExporter Magazine Articles on Trading with China

Other Links

U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, China Gateway

Archived Information

Last modified: Friday, November 18, 2005