./.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/CHN/12 
15 September 2004 
 
 (04-3867) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
CHINA'S TRANSITIONAL REVIEW MECHANISM
1 
 
Questions from the UNITED STATES to CHINA2 
  
 The following communication, dated 8 September 2004, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the United States.  
_______________ 
 
 
AQSIQ Licensing for Inspection of Imports  
 
1. The United States submitted questions to Chin a in connection with the transitional review 
before the Committee on Agriculture scheduled for 23 September 2004, relating to matters covered by 
both Article 4 of the Agreement on Agriculture and various articles of the Agreement on Import 
Licensing Procedures, including State General Admini stration of Quality Supervision and Inspection 
and Quarantine (AQSIQ) licensing for inspection of impor ts.   At this time, the United States has the 
following additional questions for China relating to the import process under AQSIQ Decree No. 25, 
Administrative Measures for Entry Animal and Plant Quarantine  (effective 1 September 2002), as 
modified by AQSIQ Decree No. 73,  Items on Handling the Review and Approval for Entry Animal 
and Plant Quarantine  (effective 1 July 2004), pursuant to which importers are required to obtain 
quarantine permits for a wide range  of animal and plant products. 
 (a) What steps is China taking to ensure that  the import process under Decree No. 25, as modified 
by Decree No. 73, is conducted in a fair and equitable manner, as required by Article 1.3 of 
the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures? 
 
(b) What steps is China taking to comply with Article 2.2 of  the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures and ensure that its administration of the import process under Decree No. 25, as modified by Decree No. 73, is not having trade restricting effects? 
 
Entities Responsible for Authorization or Approval of Imports  
 
2. In G/LIC/Q/CHN/8, the United States asked Ch ina whether the list of all entities responsible 
for the authorization or approval of imports had been updated and published in the MOFCOM 
Gazette, as required by paragraph 132 of the Work ing Party Report accompanying China’s Protocol 
of Accession.  In G/LIC/Q/CHN/10, China responded that “[t]he list of entities responsible for the 
authorization or approval of imports can be f ound in [the] MOFCOM Gazette.”  Please provide 
citations to the dates of publication and issue numbers of the MOFCOM Gazette for the list in question as well as for any updates to that list. 
                                                     
 
1 Pursuant to Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China 
(WT/L/432). 
2 See Understanding on Procedures for th e Review of Notifications (G/LIC/4). G/LIC/Q/CHN/12 
Page 2  
 
  
Buying, Selling and Transferring of Import Licences  
 
3. In response to a question from the United St ates in G/LIC/Q/CHN/8, China confirmed in 
G/LIC/Q/CHN/10 that the buying, selling and transferring of import licences between non-affiliated 
entities is illegal in China.  Please identify the laws, regulations or measures that make these activities 
illegal in China.  
__________