. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/85 
11 November 2008 
 (08-5459) 
Committee on Safeguards  
 
 
 
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS 
ON TRANSITIONAL REVIEW OF CHINA  
  
1. The Committee on Safeguards undertook the seventh transitional review of China's 
implementation of the Agreement on Safeguards pursuant to Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the 
Accession of the People's Republic of China (WT/ L/432) at its meeting on 28 October 2008.   
2. Annex 1A to the Protocol requires China to submit information regarding the implementation 
of its Regulation on Safeguards.  China submitted the information in this respect on 15 October 2008. 
It can be found in document G/SG/W/209. 
3. The statements made at the meeting of 28 Oct ober 2008, at which the transitional review was 
Item 2C of the agenda, are reflected in the minut es of the meeting, which will be circulated as 
document G/SG/M/34.  The relevant paragraphs whic h reflect the statements made at the meeting are 
annexed. G/SG/85 
Page 2 
 
 
  ANNEX  [EXTRACT FROM DOCUMENT G/SG/M/34] 
TRANSITIONAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL 
OF ACCESSION OF THE PEOPLE' S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO THE 
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
 
1. The Chairperson  noted that Paragraph 18 of China's Protocol of Accession provided that all 
subsidiary bodies, including the Safeguards Comm ittee, "which have a mandate covering China's 
commitments under the WTO Agreement or [the] Prot ocol shall, within one year after accession, 
review, as appropriate to their mandate, the implem entation by China of the WTO Agreement and of 
the related provisions of [the] Protocol."  China was to provide relevant information in advance of the 
review, including information specified in Annex 1A to the Protocol.  China could also raise issues 
relating to any reservations under S ection 17 or to any other speci fic commitments made by other 
Members in the Protocol, in subsidiary  bodies which have a relevant mandate. 
2. The Chairperson stated that th e Committee must report the results of the review promptly to 
the Council for Trade in Goods.  Review was to take  place after accession in each year for eight years, 
with a final review in year 10 or at an earlier da te decided by the General Council.  He added that 
there were no procedures set out for the conduct of th e transitional review in the Protocol, except that 
China was to provide relevant information in adva nce of the review.  In accordance with section IV.6 
of Annex 1A to the Protocol, China was required to  notify the Committee of its implementation of its 
Regulation on Safeguards.  The Chairperson info rmed the Committee that China had submitted the 
information on 15 October 2008, and was circulated as document G/SG/W/209. 
3. There was no Member that took the floor on the information submitted.   
4. The Chairperson  noted that China's Protocol of Accession contained no guidelines for 
reporting to the Council for Trade in Goods on the Committee's transitional review of China's 
implementation of the Agreement.  He proposed  that the Committee foll ow the same reporting 
procedure as last year, whereby the Chairperson,  acting on his own responsibility, would prepare a 
brief, factual report, with references to the docum ents concerned, and attaching the portion of the 
minutes of the meeting which relate to the transitional review. 
5. The Committee agreed  that the Chairperson should prepare th e same type of report in respect 
of this year's review. 
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