Century Negotiations - During the Days of the GATT/WTO Negotiations

Author: Wang Yi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: This book authentically records some of the key experiences in China's "Re-entry into GATT" and "Accession to the WTO" negotiations. It narrates the historical facts of how the negotiating delegation, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council and with the support of the entire nation, overcame difficulties and persistently strived to safeguard national interests. The author, based on personal experience, describes the drafting process of China's "Re-entry into GATT" application note, the transition from a "planned commodity economy" to a market economy, how China secured the status of a participant in the Uruguay Round, how major events complicated China's "Re-entry into GATT" negotiations, how China initially participated in the services trade negotiations and made preliminary commitments, how the Chinese delegation secured a formal seat at the WTO Council's executive meeting, the "sprint" of the "Re-entry into GATT" negotiations at the end of 1994 and its significance, why the WTO does not belong to the United Nations as a specialized agency, and more. For the issues that people are concerned about, this book provides a detailed account of the historical process and explains in an accessible manner the arduous and winding journey of the "Re-entry into GATT"/"Accession to the WTO" negotiations and China's active contributions during the establishment of the WTO. The book also focuses on several major issues in the negotiations, such as China's status as a developing country, the balance between rights and obligations, and the U.S. permanent most-favored-nation treatment for China. Additionally, the book records the author's observations and experiences in diplomatic activities in Geneva and the behind-the-scenes of multilateral trade negotiations, making it engaging and thought-provoking to read. The book has a broad perspective, is full of twists and turns, with fluent writing, rich content, and both images and analyses, making it a rare and valuable work for understanding the history of the "Re-entry into GATT"/"Accession to the WTO" negotiations.