Pushing the Limits of Global Governance: Trading Rights, Censorship, and WTO Jurisprudence – A Commentary on the China-Publications Case

Chinese Journal of International Law, Vol. 10, 2011

62 Pages Posted: 27 Apr 2011

See all articles by Julia Ya Qin

Julia Ya Qin

Wayne State University Law School

Date Written: April 10, 2011

Abstract

For decades, China has maintained state import monopoly in cultural products. The opaque state-trading operations ensure a maximum level of flexibility and efficacy in the government censorship of imports. The WTO judiciary held in the China-Publications case that this practice is inconsistent with China’s trading rights commitments under its Accession Protocol and cannot be justified by the public morals exception of the GATT. To comply with the WTO ruling, China must restructure its censorship regime, which it apparently is not prepared to do. This article analyzes the implications of the WTO decision and provides a critical assessment of the new WTO jurisprudence regarding trading rights and the China Accession Protocol.

Keywords: China, Censorship, Trading Rights, WTO Jurisprudence, Accession Protocol, Treaty Interpretation, Global Governance, Cultural Products, Public Morals, WTO Dispute Settlement, Appellate Body

JEL Classification: K33

Suggested Citation

Qin, Julia Ya, Pushing the Limits of Global Governance: Trading Rights, Censorship, and WTO Jurisprudence – A Commentary on the China-Publications Case (April 10, 2011). Chinese Journal of International Law, Vol. 10, 2011 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1823844

Julia Ya Qin (Contact Author)

Wayne State University Law School ( email )

471 W. Palmer
Detroit, MI 48202
United States

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