China remains the biggest challenge to the international trading system, the Office of the US Trade Representative said in its annual report to the US Congress on China’s WTO compliance released on Friday.
“It has been 22 years since China acceded to the WTO, and China still embraces a state-directed, nonmarket approach to the economy and trade, which runs counter to the norms and principles embodied by the WTO,” a release from the office quoted US Trade Representative Katherine Tai (戴琪) as saying.
“Even more problematic, China’s approach targets industries for global market domination by Chinese companies using an array of constantly evolving nonmarket policies and practices,” Tai said.
Photo: Reuters
“This report details the breadth and scale of China’s nonmarket policies and practices and the serious harm that they cause to workers, businesses and industries in the United States and around the world,” she added. “It is a stark reminder that the members of the international trading system must continue to work together to defend our shared interests against these many harmful policies and practices, particularly in sectors targeted by China’s industrial plans.”
China’s “socialist market economy,” which it was pursuing when it joined the WTO in 2001, “has turned decidedly predatory,” the report says.
In related developments, Taiwan is to urge the WTO to more efficiently handle unfair subsidizing of nonmarket economies, and four other proposals at the WTO’s Ministerial Conference, which runs from tomorrow to Thursday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中), who heads the Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations, yesterday departed for the meeting alongside Representative to the WTO Lo Chang-fa (羅昌發).
The biennial meeting is the highest-ranking decisionmaking organ in the WTO and usually discusses the body’s policy to facilitate multilateral trading among WTO members.
Taiwan is to introduce proposals for the WTO to take action to ensure that existing measures to resolve trade disputes resume, implement more stringent regulations on countries that capture large volumes of fish to ensure the sustainable development of the industry, discourage countries from restricting exports to ensure food safety, and show other members that a free, open and accepting Taiwan presents greater opportunities for economic and financial collaboration, the Office of Trade Negotiations said.
Since Taiwan’s entry into the WTO in 2002, its foreign trade value has increased nearly 2.5-fold and become more closely integrated with the world economy, it said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old