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[September 2001]
China's Accession to WTO to Affect Ceramic Quota Arrangements
Alan Osborn of INS reports that significant opportunities for British and other ceramic exporters have opened up in PR China following Beijing's agreement to the terms of its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Under the deal, PR China has agreed to reduce tariffs on 11 key ceramic products from between 24.5% and 35% to between 10% and 15% by 2005, including ceramic and porcelain tiles and ceramic tableware. PR China will also remove all import quotas by 2005 and open its own ceramic industry to foreign investment with the possibility of 100%-owned foreign companies within three years of accession.
In return, existing WTO member countries will be obliged to phase out existing quotas on Chinese goods by 2005. At present, such quotas apply to ceramic tableware and porcelain tableware, where PR China has had a successful exporting capability for some years. However, there is to be a specific safeguard instrument for countering injury in existing ceramic markets until 2008.
ENDS