China on the world stage: A trade law perspective

• Main Author: GAO, Henry S.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2010
• Subjects: Developing countries; Multilateralism; Market economies; Diplomatic protocol; Investors; International economics; Trade legislation; Foreign direct investments; Litigation; International disputes; Asian Studies; International Trade Law
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/2283; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/4235/viewcontent/104AmSocyIntlLProc532_pv.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Before China's accession to the WTO, many observers predicted that the inclusion of the emerging trade power will change the pre-existing power structure in the multilateral trading system. Some even went as far as suggesting that China will become the leader of developing countries in the crusade against developed countries, which have dominated the organization during most of the history of the GATT/WTO. Now that China has been in the WTO for almost nine years, has it really emerged as the leader of developing countries as predicted? In this short essay, I will argue that while China has seen itself transformed from a ruletaker to a rule-shaker and possibly even a rule-maker in the most powerful international organization in the world, its ascent has not followed nicely the path that has been sketched out by commentators. To the contrary, the ways China participated in different activities in the trading system has come rather as a surprise to many observers. It is important that we correctly understand the contours of China's progress so far, as this will definitely bear upon how it will help shape the multilateral trading system in the future.