Legal Issues under WTO Rules on the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Mainland China and Hong Kong

• Main Author: GAO, Henry S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2003
• Subjects: Asian Studies; International Trade Law; Transnational Law
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/713; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/1712/viewcontent/HenrySGaoLegalIssuesunderCEPA_2003.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

On 29 June 2003, the Central Government of the People's Republic of China (the Mainland) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) signed the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). As the first Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) for both sides, the CEPA provides a model for China to use the arrangements allowed under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to further trade liberalisation and promote economic development. This is a commendable endeavour. However, due to the complexity of the relevant rules of the WTO, caution must be exercised in the formulation and implementation of such agreements. This article briefly discusses the requirements under the WTO rules and how to comply with them.