ABSTRACT
Introduction Negotiations on China's accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its successor organization, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), have lasted for over 14 years, the longest accession process on record. The Chinese side jokes that the long wait has turned black hair to white and accuses some WTO members of trying to impose unacceptable conditions on China.1 In contrast, developed nations - most prominently the United States - claim that what they want are only 'commercially viable' terms, and that China has dragged its feet in opening markets.
