United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2002-06-06 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:GAO-02-812T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T P0b002ee18038da4e f:d02812t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T GAO-02-812T International trade Monitoring International agreements Foreign governments International organizations China Testimony A03533 This testimony describes China's development of rule of law practices related to the commitments China made to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which it joined in 11, 2001. When China joined the WTO, it agreed that its legal measures would be consistent with its WTO obligations. GAO found 60 commitments that specifically obligate China to enact, repeal, or modify trade-related laws or regulations. In addition, China has made a substantial number of other WTO commitments related to the rule of law in transparency, judicial review, uniform enforcement of laws, and nondiscriminatory treatment. Chinese government officials described how their efforts for reform go beyond China's WTO commitments and include broad reforms of laws and regulations at the national and provincial levels, as well as reforms of judicial and administrative procedures. However, Chinese officials acknowledged the challenges they face in completing the necessary reforms and identified the need for outside training assistance. According to GAO's survey, U.S. businesses in China consider rule of law-related WTO commitments to be important, especially the consistent application of laws, regulations, and practices in China, and enforcement of intellectual property rights. However, a majority of businesses answering the survey anticipated that these rule of law commitments would be difficult for the Chinese to implement, and they identified some concerns over specific implementation issues. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T.htm GAO-02-812T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-02-812T Testimony GAO-02-812T; World Trade Organization: Observations on China's Rule of Law Reforms; International trade Monitoring International agreements Foreign governments International organizations China