USTR Again Criticizes China's WTO Compliance

On February 15, 2022, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual 2021 Report To Congress on China's WTO Compliance. Upon the release of the report, USTR Katherine Tai said: "China has not moved to embrace the market-oriented principles on which the WTO and its rules are based . [but] has instead retained and expanded its state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade. It is clear that in pursuing that approach, China's policies and practices challenge the premise of the WTO's rules and cause serious harm to workers and businesses around the world, particularly in industries targeted by China's industrial plans."

After 20 years of WTO membership, the report notes, "China still embraces a state-led, non-market approach to the economy and trade, despite other WTO members' expectations - and China's own representations - that China would transform its economy and pursue the open, market-oriented policies endorsed by the WTO."