CELEX: 51988PC0009
Language: en
Date: 1988-01-19 00:00:00
Title: Recommendation for a COUNCIL DECISION concerning the negotiations for the accession of the People's Republic of China to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (submitted by the Commission)

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COM (88) 9
Vol. 1988/0002
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                               COM(88 ) 9 final
                                               Brussels , 19 January 1988
                                  Recommendation for a
                                     COUNCIL DECISION
                 concerning the negotiations for the accession of the
     People 's Republic of China to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
                             ( submitted by the Commission )
                                   c              S
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 C0M(88 ) 9 final
 ---pagebreak---                                        X
                              EXPLANATORY NEHORANOUH
China' s accession to the GATT
1 . On the 10 July 1986 the People 's Republic of China has informed the
    Director-General of GATT of its intention to resume its status as a
    contracting party of GATT , pursuant to Article XXXIII . On the 4 March
    1987 , the GATT Council established a Working Party to examine the
    foreign trade regime of China and to prepare a draft protocol setting
    out the respective rights and obligations .
2 . This Working Party is now in the process of establishing a programme of
    work in order to examine China 's memorandum on its Foreign Trade Regime ,
    submitted on 13.2.1987 , and also the Chinese authorities' replies to the
    contracting parties' questions about the Memorandum .
3 . In its request for status as a Contracting Party , China highlighted its
    long-term commitment to a basic national policy of opening to the
    outside world , revitalizing and reforming its domestic economy . It has
    also indicated that it expects to receive treatment equivalent to that
    accorded to other developing contracting parties .
4 . The Community has declared its readiness to begin negotiations on
    China 's accession to GATT , taking the view that a country endowed with
    such economic and commercial potential can play a key role in the
    strengthening of the GATT . Nevertheless , given China 's specific economic
    system that still has features in common with the centrally planned
    economies , it is of prime importance that the conditions of China 's
    participation in the GATT are closely examined . China 's claim to LDC
    status will also have to be examined .
5 . The Community has longstanding links with China . A Trade Agreement
    between the Community and China was signed on 3 April 1978 . A key
    feature of the Trade Agreement , which was non-preferential , was the
    commitment of the Community to aim at an increasing liberalization of
    imports from China , while China undertook to give favourable
    consideration to imports from the Community . In 1985 a new 5 year Trade
    and Economic Co-operation Agreement was signed . As regards trade , the
    provisions of the former Trade Agreement were confirmed .
6 . In view of the above , the Commission proposes that the Council authorize
    it to enter into negotiations , to be conducted in the GATT Working
    Party , on China 's accession to GATT .
 ---pagebreak---                                    3
                    RECOMMENDATION EOR A COUNCIL DECISION
concerning the negotiations for the accession of the People 's Republic of
China to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
THE COUNCIL Of THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
and in particular Article 113 thereof ,
Having regard to the Recommendation from the Commission ,
Whereas China has submitted an application for accession to the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ,
Whereas this request should be considered within the framework of the
existing GATT negotiating procedures ,
HAS DECIDED AS E0LL0WS :
                                 Sole Article
The Commission is hereby authorised to take part in the negotiations for
China 's accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade .
The Commission shall conduct the negotiations in consultation with the
Special Committee , provided for in Article 113 of the Treaty , which will
assist it in this task .
                                                   Done at Brussels ,
                                                   F or the Council
                                                   The President