Chinas WTO Accession Agreement in EnglishPROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA Preamble The World Trade Organization "WTO" pursuant to the approval of the Ministerial Co

r applied by China upon accession shall apply to the entire territory of China, including its Special Administrative Regions, namely Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region. 4. China shall ensure that its laws, regulations, and administrative procedures are consistent with its WTO obligations as set out in this Protocol and the WTO Agreement. 5. China shall ensure that any state trading enterprises it maintains or establishes operate in a manner consistent with its WTO obligations. 6. China shall not seek, apply, or otherwise maintain any measure that is inconsistent with its WTO obligations.

2. Trade in Goods 1. China shall eliminate all import tariffs and charges on goods originating from WTO Members, except as otherwise provided in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods. 2. China shall ensure that its customs valuation system is in conformity with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. 3. China shall not apply any internal taxes or other charges on imported goods in excess of those applied to like domestic products. 4. China shall not apply any quantitative restrictions other than those consistent with its WTO obligations as set out in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.

3. Trade in Services 1. China shall ensure that its measures relating to trade in services are in conformity with the provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services, including its annexes, protocols, and related agreements. 2. China shall accord to services and service suppliers of WTO Members treatment no less favorable than that it accords to its own like services and service suppliers. 3. China shall not maintain or introduce any measure that would constitute a violation of its obligations under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

4. Intellectual Property Rights 1. China shall ensure that its laws and regulations are consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. 2. China shall provide adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. 3. China shall ensure that its measures relating to intellectual property rights do not constitute an unjustifiable barrier to trade.

5. Dispute Settlement 1. China shall ensure that its domestic laws and regulations permit prompt and effective enforcement of its WTO obligations. 2. China shall comply with the procedures and requirements for the settlement of disputes under the WTO Agreement.

Part II – Specific Commitments

1. Tariffs 1. China shall eliminate all tariffs on goods originating from WTO Members, except as otherwise provided in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.

2. Non-Tariff Measures 1. China shall eliminate or modify non-tariff measures that are inconsistent with its WTO obligations, as set out in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.

3. Agriculture 1. China shall ensure that its measures relating to agriculture are in conformity with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture.

4. Textiles and Clothing 1. China shall ensure that its measures relating to textiles and clothing are in conformity with the provisions of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

5. Services 1. China shall make specific commitments with respect to trade in services, as set out in its Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services.

6. Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 1. China shall ensure that its laws and regulations are consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

7. Other Issues 1. China shall ensure that its measures relating to investment, competition policy, and government procurement are in conformity with its WTO obligations.

Part III – Transitional Arrangements

1. General 1. China shall implement its WTO commitments upon accession, subject to the transitional arrangements set out in this Part.

2. Tariffs 1. China may apply tariffs on certain agricultural products and certain industrial products for a period not to exceed the periods specified in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.

3. Non-Tariff Measures 1. China may maintain non-tariff measures that are inconsistent with its WTO obligations, as set out in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods, for a period not to exceed the periods specified therein.

4. Services 1. China may maintain restrictions on market access and national treatment for certain services sectors, as set out in its Schedule of Specific Commitments on Services, for a period not to exceed the periods specified therein.

5. Safeguards 1. China may take safeguard measures in accordance with the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, subject to the transitional arrangements set out in its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods.

Part IV – Final Provisions

1. Entry into Force 1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the date on which China notifies the WTO that it has fulfilled all necessary domestic legal requirements for the entry into force of this Protocol.

2. Amendments 1. This Protocol may be amended in accordance with the procedures set out in the WTO Agreement.

3. Annexes and Schedules 1. The annexes and schedules to this Protocol shall form an integral part of this Protocol.

4. Authentic Texts 1. This Protocol, in the English, French, and Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Director-General of the WTO.

5. Termination 1. This Protocol shall remain in force until terminated in accordance with the procedures set out in the WTO Agreement.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorized, have signed this Protocol.

Done at Geneva, this eleventh day of December, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

For the People's Republic of China:

For the World Trade Organization