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Chapter 3

III. FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING AND ENFORCING POLICIES

1. Structure and Powers of the Government

66. The representative of China informed members of the Working Party that in accordance with the Constitution and the Law on Legislation of the People's Republic of China, the National People's Congress was the highest organ of state power. Its permanent body was its Standing Committee. The National People's Congress and its Standing Committee exercised the legislative power of the State. They had the power to formulate the Constitution and laws. The State Council, i.e., the Central People's Government of China, was the executive body of the highest organ of state power. The State Council, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws, was entrusted with the power to formulate administrative regulations. The ministries, commissions and other competent departments (collectively referred to as "departments'') of the State Council could issue departmental rules within the jurisdiction of their respective departments and in accordance with the laws and administrative regulations. The provincial people's congresses and their standing committees could adopt local regulations. The provincial governments had the power to make local government rules. The National People's Congress and its Standing Committee had the power to annul the administrative regulations that contradicted the Constitution and laws as well as the local regulations that contradicted the Constitution, laws and administrative regulations. The State Council had the power to annul departmental rules and local government rules that were inconsistent with the Constitution, laws or administrative regulations. These features of the Chinese legal system would ensure an effective and uniform implementation of the obligations after China's accession.

67. The representative of China stated that China had been consistently performing its international treaty obligations in good faith. According to the Constitution and the Law on the Procedures of Conclusion of Treaties, the WTO Agreement fell within the category of "important international agreements" subject to the ratification by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. China would ensure that its laws and regulations pertaining to or affecting trade were in conformity with the WTO Agreement and with its commitments so as to fully perform its international obligations. For this purpose, China had commenced a plan to systematically revise its relevant domestic laws. Therefore, the WTO Agreement would be implemented by China in an effective and uniform manner through revising its existing domestic laws and enacting new ones fully in compliance with the WTO Agreement.

68. The representative of China confirmed that administrative regulations, departmental rules and other central government measures would be promulgated in a timely manner so that China's commitments would be fully implemented within the relevant time frames. If administrative regulations, departmental rules or other measures were not in place within such time frames, authorities would still honour China's obligations under the WTO Agreement and Draft Protocol. The representative of China further confirmed that the central government would undertake in a timely manner to revise or annul administrative regulations or departmental rules if they were inconsistent with China's obligations under the WTO Agreement and Draft Protocol. The Working Party took note of these commitments.

2. Authority of Sub-National Governments

69. Several members of the Working Party raised concerns about the continued presence of multiple trade instruments used by different levels of government within China. Those members considered that this situation resulted in a lessening of the security and predictability of access to the Chinese market. These Members raised specific concerns regarding the authority of sub-national governments in the areas of fiscal, financial and budgetary activities, specifically with respect to subsidies, taxation, trade policy and other issues covered by the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol. In addition, some members expressed concerns about whether the central government could effectively ensure that trade-related measures introduced at the sub-national level would conform to China's commitments in the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol.

70. The representative of China stated that sub-national governments had no autonomous authority over issues of trade policy to the extent that they were related to the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol. The representative of China confirmed that China would in a timely manner annul local regulations, government rules and other local measures that were inconsistent with China's obligations. The representative of China further confirmed that the central government would ensure that China's laws, regulations and other measures, including those of local governments at the sub-national level, conformed to China's obligations undertaken in the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol. The Working Party took note of these commitments.

3. Uniform Administration of the Trade Regime

71. Some members of the Working Party stated that it should be made clear that China would apply the requirements of the WTO Agreement and its other accession commitments throughout China's entire customs territory, including border trade regions, minority autonomous areas, Special Economic Zones ("SEZs"), open coastal cities, economic and technical development zones and other special economic areas and at all levels of government.

72. Those members of the Working Party also raised concerns about whether China's central government would be sufficiently informed about non-uniform practices and would take necessary enforcement actions. Those members stated that China should establish a mechanism by which any concerned person could bring to the attention of the central government cases of non-uniform application of the trade regime and receive prompt and effective action to address situations in which non-uniform application was established.

73. The representative of China confirmed that the provisions of the WTO Agreement, including the Draft Protocol, would be applied uniformly throughout its customs territory, including in SEZs and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regulations were established and at all levels of government. The Working Party took note of this commitment.

74. In response to questions from certain members of the Working Party, the representative of China confirmed that laws, regulations and other measures included decrees, orders, directives, administrative guidance and provisional and interim measures. He stated that in China, local governments included provincial governments, including autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, cities, counties and townships. The representative of China further stated that local regulations, rules and other measures were issued by local governments at the provincial, city and county levels acting within their respective constitutional powers and functions and applied at their corresponding local level. Townships were only authorized to implement measures. Special economic areas were also authorized to issue and implement local rules and regulations.

75. The representative of China further confirmed that the mechanism established pursuant to Section 2(A) of the Draft Protocol would be operative upon accession. All individuals and entities could bring to the attention of central government authorities cases of non-uniform application of China's trade regime, including its commitments under the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol. Such cases would be referred promptly to the responsible government agency, and when non-uniform application was established, the authorities would act promptly to address the situation utilizing the remedies available under China's laws, taking into consideration China's international obligations and the need to provide a meaningful remedy. The individual or entity notifying China's authorities would be informed promptly in writing of any decision and action taken. The Working Party took note of these commitments.

4. Judicial Review

76. Some members of the Working Party stated that China should designate independent tribunals, contact points, and procedures for the prompt review of all administrative actions relating to the implementation of laws, regulations, judicial decisions and administrative rulings of general application referred to in Article X:1 of the GATT 1994, including administrative actions relating to import or export licences, non-tariff measures and tariff-rate quota administration, conformity assessment procedures and other measures. These members sought explicit confirmation that certain types of measures, such as decisions relating to standards and chemical registration, would be subject to judicial review. Some members of the Working Party also stated that the administrative actions subject to review should also include any actions required to be reviewed under the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement and the GATS. These members stated that such tribunals should be independent of the agencies entrusted with administrative enforcement of the matter and should not have any substantial interest in the outcome of the matter.

77. Those members of the Working Party stated that such review procedures should include the opportunity for appeal, without penalty, by individuals or enterprises affected by any administrative action subject to review. If an initial right of appeal were to an administrative body, there should be an opportunity to choose to make a further appeal to a judicial body. Any decision by any appellate body and the reasons therefore would be communicated in writing to the appellant, together with notification of any right to further appeal.

78. The representative of China confirmed that it would revise its relevant laws and regulations so that its relevant domestic laws and regulations would be consistent with the requirements of the WTO Agreement and the Draft Protocol on procedures for judicial review of administrative actions. He further stated that the tribunals responsible for such reviews would be impartial and independent of the agency entrusted with administrative enforcement, and would not have any substantial interest in the outcome of the matter. The Working Party took note of these commitments.

79. In response to questions from certain members of the Working Party, the representative of China confirmed that administrative actions related to the implementation of laws, regulations, judicial decisions and administrative rulings of general application referred to in Article X:1 of the GATT 1994, Article VI of the GATS and the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement included those relating to the implementation of national treatment, conformity assessment, the regulation, control, supply or promotion of a service, including the grant or denial of a licence to provide a service and other matters, and that such administrative actions would be subject to the procedures established for prompt review under Section 2(D)(2) of the Draft Protocol, and information on such procedures would be available through the enquiry point that China would establish upon accession. The Working Party took note of these commitments.


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