US support for China’s 2001 WTO entry a mistake, Trump administration says
Accession terms not enough to ensure Beijing pursued open, market-focused change, according to White House report
The United States mistakenly supported China’s membership of the World Trade Organisation in 2001 on terms that have failed to force Beijing to open its economy, the Trump administration said on Friday as it prepares to clamp down on Chinese trade.
“It seems clear that the United States erred in supporting China’s entry into the WTO on terms that have proven to be ineffective in securing China’s embrace of an open, market-oriented trade regime,” the administration said in an annual report to Congress on China’s compliance with WTO commitments.
“It is now clear that the WTO rules are not sufficient to constrain China’s market-distorting behaviour.”
While the annual report from the US Trade Representative’s office has long taken China to task for unfair trade practices, the first such review under US President Donald Trump takes a harsher tone against Beijing.
It comes amid worsening trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies and as the administration prepares actions to curb China’s alleged theft of intellectual property. A decision in “Section 301” investigation is expected in the coming weeks.