English WTO Common Terminology Dictionary

Author: Ye Xingguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-08-01
Features: Since China's entry into the WTO over a year ago, the import and export trade situation has been encouraging, with the total trade volume of import and export goods ranking fifth in the world. Authorities predict that in the coming years, China is expected to become the second-largest trading nation globally, the United States. Over the past year, the Chinese government has fulfilled its commitments by reviewing and revising a large number of laws and regulations, translating and publishing numerous WTO legal documents and academic classics, and conducting large-scale popular education on WTO knowledge—all of which have earned positive evaluations from WTO members. To ensure the accuracy of information exchange in China's foreign economic and trade activities after joining the WTO, we compiled and published the "Glossary of WTO Terminology" before China's entry into the WTO. Over the past year, this "Glossary of WTO Terminology" has played its due role in relevant activities and has been well-received by users. To provide convenience for experts, scholars, teachers, and students engaged in WTO-related teaching, research, and translation, with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, we compiled this "English-Chinese Dictionary of Common WTO Terminology." The terms in this dictionary are all selected from the WTO Terminology Database (WT’OT’ERMS). These professional terms and linguistic units related to WTO affairs and world trade include terms and expressions contained in the legal texts produced during the Uruguay Round and formally adopted in Marrakesh in 1994. We have provided example sentences for each entry. The example sentences are selected from dozens of legal texts formally adopted in Marrakesh in 1994, as well as from some WTO expert group reports and WTO official publications (specific names can be found in the "Abbreviations of Sources" section). The English, French, and Spanish versions of WTO legal texts are the official texts of the various agreements, while the Chinese version is not legally binding. However, to avoid producing different Chinese translations of the same WTO legal provisions, the chief editor referred to the "Legal Texts of the Results of the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Negotiations of the World Trade Organization" translated by the International Economic and Trade Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Economic and Trade Cooperation of the People's Republic of China and published by Legal Publishing House in December 2001 when reviewing the Chinese translations of example sentences derived from WTO legal texts. Any discrepancies between the translations and this authoritative version have been amended accordingly. The compilation of this dictionary was supported by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and the Research Department of Shanghai International Business College. Cheng Jie was responsible for collecting materials and developing specialized computer search software. The preliminary draft of the dictionary was completed by Zou Nannan, Lei Chunlin, Jiang Jian, Gan Cuiping, Yang Weihong, and Liu Xinying. Graduate students from the WTO Research and Education College of Shanghai International Business College, Jin Hong, Qian Jianqing, and Zhang Hui, also contributed to some reference checks. We extend our gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who have been concerned about and supported the compilation of this dictionary. This is a highly specialized terminology dictionary covering many fields such as economics, trade, finance, law, and taxation. Due to the lack of similar dictionaries for reference and the limited expertise of the compilers, it is inevitable that there may be inaccuracies or errors in the book. We hope that the experts, scholars, and readers who use this reference tool will provide suggestions for improvement and work together to advance the standardization of WTO terminology in Chinese.