Through a records request at the U.S. National Archives, we obtained a number of documents related to U.S.-China negotiations on China's accession to the GATT/WTO. In the coming months, we will do a series of posts about these documents. This is the first in

Starting on January 1, the Chinese government unilaterally lowered tariffs for some imports, mainly consumer goods, medical products, and industrial materials. In addition, lower tariffs will apply to some goods as a result of international agreements that China committed to previously. Finally, the government also adjusted some export taxes.

In late December, the Zimbabwe government adopted measures to encourage Chinese lithium mining companies to do more processing in Zimbabwe, rather than simply export raw lithium for processing elsewhere.

At two WTO meetings earlier this year for which the minutes have now been circulated, a number of issues related to China trade were raised by other Members against China (including regulations on cosmetics and food imports), and also by China in relation to other Members (such as export controls

At the meeting of the WTO's Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade on July 13-15, 2022, a number of WTO Members raised "specific trade concerns" (STCs) about particular Chinese measures, and China voiced its concerns with measures of other Members.

Ahead of an anticipated visit to China in February, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell offered some comments to the media about his view of the state of Australia-China trade relations and specific trade conflicts.

Last week, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the Trade with China Strategic Assessment Act, which would require an executive branch report about trade integration with China.