Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-Summary§18 |
China |
2016 |
Measures |
Import licences |
Other |
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Imports continue to be classified into three categories: not restricted, restricted and prohibited. Automatic import licensing is in place for statistical purposes to monitor trade volumes of imports that are not restricted. These goods are listed in the Catalogue of Goods subject to Automatic Licensing, which is issued annually, and in the Catalogue of Automatic Licensing for Solid Waste. In 2015, 396 products at the HS 8-digit level were included in the former (46 less than in 2013); however, eight tariff lines were added to it later in the year. There were 17 products listed in the Catalogue of Automatic Licensing for Solid Waste. Since the last Review, automatic import licensing requirements were removed for certain machinery and equipment, and vehicles. Restricted goods are administered through non-automatic licences and/or quotas. Non-automatic licences apply to imports regardless of the origin. Products subject to non-automatic licensing are listed in the Catalogue of Goods Subject to Licensing and in the Catalogue of Restricted Imports for Solid Waste. In 2015, 134 tariff lines at the HS 8-digit level were subject to non-automatic import licensing. In 2015, as in 2013, these imports were mainly second-hand machinery and electronic equipment. The terms and procedures to obtain such a licence remain unchanged since the previous Review.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-I§5 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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(...) In 2015, the authorities continued to implement the same policies to promote consumption. To this end, the authorities identified six major areas in which they wish to promote consumption: online shopping; green consumption (energy-saving products); housing; tourism and leisure consumption; educational, cultural and sports consumption; and elderly care and healthcare services.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-I§13 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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(...) The authorities have stated that, while continuing to engage in a VAT reform process, they intend to focus reform on improving the personal income tax system to lower the tax burden on low- and middle-income households, as well as on strengthening resource taxation to help protect the environment, and on introducing a nationwide property tax.
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Keywords
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Natural resources
Environment
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-I§20 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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(...) In November 2014, the State Council put forward measures to further liberalize market access, facilitate investment and financing, promote investor diversification, and improve the price formation mechanism in areas such as public services, natural resources and the environment, and ecological construction and infrastructure. (...)
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Natural resources
Environment
Eco
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-Table-I.6 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Table 1.6 Inward foreign direct investment by sector, 2012-14
Water conservancy, environment, public facilities
- 2012: Foreign capital actually used (US$ million): 850.3
- 2013: Foreign capital actually used (US$ million): 1,035.9
- 2014: Foreign capital actually used (US$ million): 573.5; % of total FDI: 0.5
(...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-Box-II.1 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Box 2.1 Procedures to approve legislation in China
(...)
Local Regulations, Autonomous Regulations, Separate Regulations
Local regulations are formulated by the people's congresses or their standing committees in the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government. The people's congresses of cities with districts and their standing committees may only formulate local regulations related to, inter alia, urban and rural construction projects, environmental protection, and the protection of historic and cultural sights. (...)
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-II§10 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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(...) The Ministries of: Agriculture, Environmental Protection, Finance, Industry and Information Technology, and Transportation are also involved in the formulation and implementation of trade policy.
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-II§11 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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A major institutional reform in 2013 was the establishment of the National Leading Group for Comprehensive Deepening Reform, which is in charge of outlining a roadmap for reforms and coordinating their implementation. Six subgroups were established under the Group to undertake this task. [14] MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce) is involved in the subgroup dealing with economic reform and environmental protection.
[14] The six subgroups are: (i) economic reform and environmental protection; (ii) democracy and rule of law; (iii) cultural issues; (iv) social issues; (v) reform of the Party's building system; and (vi) disciplinary inspection (anti-corruption).
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-II§13 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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The authorities indicated that China will continue its policy of "opening up", focusing on: the modernization of existing industries; the development of clean and knowledge-based industries; and the services sector. They also noted that China remains concerned about: overcapacity in certain industries, energy conservation, and the protection of the environment. In this respect, the authorities stated that they are guiding FDI into emerging industries, high-tech industries, energy conservation and environmental protection industries. These goals have been reflected in the latest 2015 Investment Catalogue – which encourages investment in those sectors where capital is needed, and discourages and prohibits investment in areas where there is overcapacity – and in the expansion of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (CSPFTZ), launched in 2013, and the establishment of other pilot free trade zones (in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian). Through these pilot projects China is exploring, inter alia, the establishment of a new foreign investment regulatory framework, based on granting pre-establishment national treatment (i.e. no approval required at the time of establishment) to foreign investment in activities not included in a negative list.
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Clean
Energy
Conservation
Environment
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/342/REV.1 |
S-II§25 |
China |
2016 |
Trade Policy Framework |
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Relevant information
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The Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries (Investment Catalogue), which is revised periodically, is the main instrument used to guide FDI in China. The Catalogue lists the industries where FDI is encouraged, restricted or prohibited. Projects that do not fall into one of these three groups are "permitted". In general, projects in the "encouraged" category (those that the authorities are interested in promoting) are those that use improved technology and are less polluting, while "restricted" industries are those deemed to employ outdated technologies, over-exploit scarce natural resources or harm the environment. The "prohibited" category includes projects that pollute the environment, destroy natural resources or go against social and public interests. (...)
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Keywords
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Pollution
Natural resources
Environment
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