ABSTRACT
How is China behaving in the multilateral trade system? Our project examines two overarching questions related to China's behavior in the World Trade Organization (WTO): first, to what degree has Beijing made progress toward “playing by the rules” of the WTO and living up to its accession commitments; and, second, to what extent is Beijing cooperating with other Members and taking the initiative to proactively promote the regime's overall objective of multilateral trade liberalization? Overall, this project portrays a China that is gradually adapting to the status quo of the existing international economic system and its liberal underpinnings. In addition to taking many positive steps to harmonize its domestic practices with its WTO obligations, Beijing is generally engaging in an “acceptable level of compliance” with its WTO commitments and has demonstrated a willingness to abide by WTO rules and operate within the WTO system.
