G/TBT/W/547  
 
5 July 2018 
(18-4206) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
CHINA — CHINESE ENVIRONMENTA L PROTECTION CONTROL  STANDARDS  
FOR IMPORTED SOLID  WASTE AS RAW MATERIA LS 
STATEMENT BY CHINA TO THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE  
20 AND 21  JUNE 2018 
The following communication, dated 4 July  2018, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of China. 
 
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1.  Ever since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central 
Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, has been pushing for ecological progress  and pro -actively 
practicing the values of "sustainable development" and "green development" in order to meet the 
Chinese people's ever -growing need for a beautiful eco -environment, aiming to solve significant 
outstanding environmental problems. Advancing the reform of the solid waste import 
administration regime is one of the most important steps that the Chinese government has taken 
to implement the New Development Ideas, safeguard the eco -environment safety and population 
health.  
2.  Solid waste treatment an d disposal is a shared environmental issue faced by all members 
around the world. In accordance with the internationally recognized principles of "waste generator 
responsibility" and "disposal to the nearest", each member has the obligation to dispose of 
domestically generated solid wastes. China, as a developing member with the largest population, 
must make the inevitable choice of restricting and prohibiting imports of solid waste, whilst 
improving domestic solid waste treatment and disposal.  While China still welcomes the normal 
trade flow of raw materials processed from solid waste, the import of solid waste will be strictly 
controlled and regulated in order to safeguard eco -environment safety and population health.  
3.  At present, China is seeking a path to wards modernization that ensures the harmonious co -
existence of men and nature.  To that aim and with the objective to build a beautiful China, China 
will continue to pro -actively practice the values of "sustainable development" and "green 
development", to unswervingly advance the reform of the solid waste import administration 
regime, and push forward the ecological reform. In the process of adjusting relevant policies, the 
Chinese government will take into full consideration the calls from the domestic and  international 
communities, coordinate economic growth and environmental protection, balance trade and non -
trade interests, safeguard a smooth policy transition, and fulfill the transparency obligation under 
the WTO.  
4.  Over past decades, companies from many other WTO members have exported huge volumes of 
solid waste to China and obtained enormous economic benefits. We sincerely hope that these 
members could actively shoulder their international social responsibility while taking these 
advantages, and make due  contribution to the improvement of environmental and health issues 
worldwide.  G/TBT/W/547  
 
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  5.  We believe the most important thing for now is that all members – not only China, but also the 
rest of the world, should reduce, process, and recycle hazardous wastes and other wastes 
produced within their own borders. With this consensus and based on this condition, many 
problems could be better solved and mutual understanding could be developed. It will also 
contribute to the global promotion of a green, low -carbon and recyclin g development mode, and 
the creation of a clean, beautiful world.  
 
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