安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》的决定
安徽省人大常委会
安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会关于修改《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》的决定
（2008年12月20日安徽省第十一届人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议通过）
根据《中华人民共和国各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法》的有关规定，安徽省第十一届人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议决定对《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》作如下修改：
一、第一条修改为：“为了规范省人民代表大会常务委员会（以下简称常务委员会）的议事程序，提高议事效率，保证常务委员会依法履行职责，根据《中华人民共和国地方各级人民代表大会和地方各级人民政府组织法》、《中华人民共和国各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法》和有关法律规定，结合本省实际，制定本规则。”
二、第十四条修改为：“常务委员会举行会议时，主任会议、常务委员会组成人员可以依照法律、法规的规定，提出质询案、免职案和撤职案，提议组织关于特定问题的调查委员会。
“质询、免职、撤职、提议组织关于特定问题的调查委员会，依照有关法律、法规的规定进行。”
三、第二十条修改为：“拟提请常务委员会会议审议的人事任免案，应当在常务委员会会议举行15日前报送常务委员会人事任免工作机构。”
四、第二十二条修改为：“常务委员会审议、批准法规案，依照《安徽省人民代表大会及其常务委员会立法条例》的规定进行。”
五、删去第二十三条。
六、第二十四条改为第二十三条，第二款修改为：“提请常务委员会审议的撤职案，提案人应当在常务委员会会议上作拟撤销职务的说明。撤职案在提请表决前，被提出撤职的人员有权在常务委员会会议上提出申辩意见，或者书面提出申辩意见，由主任会议决定印发常务委员会会议。”
七、第四章章名修改为：“听取和审议专项工作报告”。
八、第二十八条改为第二十七条，修改为：“常务委员会每年选择若干关系改革发展稳定大局和群众切身利益、社会普遍关注的重大问题，有计划地安排听取和审议省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院的专项工作报告。”
九、第三十条改为第二十九条，修改为：“列入常务委员会会议建议议程的专项工作报告，省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院应当在常务委员会举行会议的20日前，由其办事机构将专项工作报告送交有关专门委员会或者常务委员会有关工作机构征求意见；省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院对报告修改后，在常务委员会举行会议的10日前送交常务委员会。
“常务委员会办事机构应当在常务委员会举行会议的7日前，将专项工作报告发给常务委员会组成人员。”
十、第三十一条改为第三十条，修改为：“主任会议可以决定将专项工作报告先交有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究，提出意见。专门委员会、常务委员会有关的工作机构提出的意见，可以印发常务委员会会议。”
十一、第三十二条改为第三十一条，修改为：“常务委员会全体会议听取专项工作报告后，由分组会议、全体会议审议，必要时，也可以由联组会议审议。
“常务委员会会议审议专项工作报告时，有关机关的负责人应当到会听取审议意见，回答询问。”
十二、第三十三条改为第三十二条，第一款修改为：“常务委员会组成人员五人以上书面联名，对专项工作报告不满意并要求常务委员会会议表决的，由主任会议决定是否提请常务委员会会议表决。提请常务委员会会议表决的专项工作报告，常务委员会组成人员半数以上不满意的，常务委员会应当责成报告机关在本次会议或者下次会议上作补充报告或者重作报告。”
十三、增加一条，作为第三十三条：“对列入常务委员会会议议题的其他报告，依照有关法律、法规的规定进行。
“对列入常务委员会会议议题，进行书面审议的报告，常务委员会组成人员可以提出书面审议意见；也可以在分组会议、全体会议或者联组会议上发表意见。”
本决定自公布之日起施行。
《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》根据本决定作修改并对条款顺序作调整后，重新公布。
安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则
（2003年6月15日安徽省第十届人民代表大会常务委员会第三次会议通过 根据2008年12月20日安徽省第十一届人民代表大会常务委员会第六次会议关于修改《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》的决定修正）
第一章 总 则
第一条 为了规范省人民代表大会常务委员会（以下简称常务委员会）的议事程序，提高议事效率，保证常务委员会依法履行职责，根据《中华人民共和国地方各级人民代表大会和地方各级人民政府组织法》、《中华人民共和国各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法》和有关法律规定，结合本省实际，制定本规则。
第二条 常务委员会依照法定的权限和程序，集体行使职权。
第三条 常务委员会审议议案、报告，决定事项，应当充分发扬民主，实行民主集中制。
第二章 会议的召开
第四条 常务委员会会议每两个月至少举行一次。会议由常务委员会主任召集并主持。主任可以委托副主任主持会议。
常务委员会会议必须有常务委员会全体组成人员的过半数出席，才能举行。
第五条 常务委员会会议议程草案由主任会议拟定，提请常务委员会全体会议通过。
第六条 常务委员会举行会议，一般在会议召开20日前，将开会日期、建议会议审议的主要议题，通知常务委员会组成人员，并于会议召开7日前，在新闻媒体上公布。临时召集的会议，可以临时通知。
第七条 常务委员会举行会议时，召开全体会议，并可以召开分组会议；必要时可以召开联组会议。
第八条 常务委员会会议举行前，常务委员会组成人员、有关专门委员会、常务委员会有关的工作机构及有关部门应当围绕议题作调查研究。
第九条 常务委员会组成人员应当出席常务委员会会议。因病或者因事不能出席会议的，在会议举行前以书面形式通过常务委员会办公厅履行请假手续。会议期间不能出席全体会议、联组会议的，向秘书长请假；不能出席分组会议的，向分组会议召集人请假。
第十条 常务委员会举行全体会议时，省人民政府省长或者副省长、省高级人民法院院长、省人民检察院检察长列席会议。
常务委员会副秘书长、各机构负责人列席会议。根据需要，可以要求有关机关负责人和有关人员列席会议。
第十一条 常务委员会举行会议时，设区的市的人民代表大会常务委员会的一名负责人列席会议。可以邀请全国人民代表大会代表、省人民代表大会代表以及有关的县级人民代表大会常务委员会的负责人列席会议。
第十二条 常务委员会会议设立旁听席。年满十八周岁具有完全民事行为能力的公民，可以依照《安徽省人民代表大会及其常务委员会会议公民旁听办法》申请旁听常务委员会会议。
第十三条 常务委员会组成人员审议议案和报告时提出的意见，经主任会议研究，可以采取《审议意见书》的形式交有关机关研究办理；需要作出答复的，有关机关应当在两个月内将办理结果书面报告常务委员会。
常务委员会对受监督的国家机关或者工作人员的监督意见，可以采取《监督意见书》的形式交有关机关办理。有关机关应当在规定期限内向常务委员会报告处理结果。
常务委员会审议议案、报告，可以就有关问题作出决议、决定。
第十四条 常务委员会举行会议时，主任会议、常务委员会组成人员可以依照法律、法规的规定，提出质询案、免职案和撤职案，提议组织关于特定问题的调查委员会。
质询、免职、撤职、提议组织关于特定问题的调查委员会，依照有关法律、法规的规定进行。
第三章 议案的提出和审议
第十五条 主任会议可以向常务委员会提出属于常务委员会职权范围内的议案，由常务委员会会议审议。
省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院、省人民代表大会专门委员会可以向常务委员会提出属于常务委员会职权范围内的议案，由主任会议决定提请常务委员会会议审议，或者先交有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究，提出报告，再决定提请常务委员会会议审议。
常务委员会组成人员五人以上书面联名，可以向常务委员会提出属于常务委员会职权范围内的议案，由主任会议决定是否提请常务委员会会议审议，或者先交有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究，提出意见，再决定是否提请常务委员会会议审议。主任会议决定不提请常务委员会会议审议的，应当向常务委员会报告或者向提案人说明。
有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究议案时，可以邀请提案人列席会议，发表意见。
第十六条 省人民代表大会决定授权常务委员会审议的议案，由主任会议决定提请常务委员会会议审议；或者先由有关国家机关就议案涉及的问题进行研究，提出意见，或者交有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究，提出报告，再决定提请常务委员会会议审议。常务委员会应当将审议情况向省人民代表大会下一次会议报告。
第十七条 常务委员会工作机构可以向主任会议提出有关议案的建议。
主任会议可以委托常务委员会工作机构，拟订议案草案和向常务委员会会议作说明。
第十八条 省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院、省人民代表大会专门委员会、常务委员会组成人员五人以上书面联名向常务委员会提出的拟提请常务委员会会议审议的议案，一般应当在常务委员会会议举行20日前，报送常务委员会办公厅。
第十九条 拟提请常务委员会会议第一次审议的法规案，一般应当在常务委员会会议举行15日前报送常务委员会办公厅。
列入常务委员会会议建议议程的法规案，常务委员会办公厅一般应当在会议举行7日前将法规草案发给常务委员会组成人员。
第二十条 拟提请常务委员会会议审议的人事任免案，应当在常务委员会会议举行15日前报送常务委员会人事任免工作机构。
第二十一条 拟提请常务委员会会议审议的议案，提案人、有关的专门委员会或者常务委员会的有关工作机构应当按照有关规定向常务委员会提供参阅资料。
第二十二条 常务委员会审议、批准法规案，依照《安徽省人民代表大会及其常务委员会立法条例》的规定进行。
第二十三条 提请常务委员会会议审议的人事任免案，应当提交提请机关正职负责人签署的书面报告。提请任职的，须附有提请机关拟任职务人员的条件、简历、现实表现、任职理由、法律知识考试和民主推荐、公示情况。提请免职的，须有免职理由。
提请常务委员会审议的撤职案，提案人应当在常务委员会会议上作拟撤销职务的说明。撤职案在提请表决前，被提出撤职的人员有权在常务委员会会议上提出申辩意见，或者书面提出申辩意见，由主任会议决定印发常务委员会会议。
第二十四条 常务委员会全体会议听取提案人关于议案的说明。
常务委员会全体会议听取议案说明后，由分组会议或者全体会议审议；必要时，也可以由联组会议审议。
常务委员会会议审议议案时，提案人应当派人到会听取审议意见，回答询问，并可以在常务委员会全体会议、分组会议或者联组会议上对议案作补充说明。
第二十五条 列入常务委员会会议的议案，在交付表决前，提案人要求撤回的，应当说明理由。经主任会议同意，并向常务委员会报告，对该议案的审议即行终止。
第二十六条 需经常务委员会会议表决的议案，在审议后仍有重大问题需要进一步研究的，经主任会议提出，全体会议同意，可以暂不付表决，交有关的专门委员会进一步审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究。
第四章 听取和审议专项工作报告
第二十七条 常务委员会每年选择若干关系改革发展稳定大局和群众切身利益、社会普遍关注的重大问题，有计划地安排听取和审议省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院的专项工作报告。
第二十八条 省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院向常务委员会提出的专项工作报告，应当由省人民政府组成人员或者人民政府直属机构正职负责人、省高级人民法院院长、省人民检察院检察长到会作报告。
正职负责人出缺的，应当由主持工作的副职负责人到会作报告。
正职负责人因故不能到会的，经常务委员会负责人同意，可以由副职负责人到会作报告。
第二十九条 列入常务委员会会议建议议程的专项工作报告，省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院应当在常务委员会举行会议的20日前，由其办事机构将专项工作报告送交有关专门委员会或者常务委员会有关工作机构征求意见；省人民政府、省高级人民法院、省人民检察院对报告修改后，在常务委员会举行会议的10日前送交常务委员会。
常务委员会办事机构应当在常务委员会举行会议的7日前，将专项工作报告发给常务委员会组成人员。
第三十条 主任会议可以决定将专项工作报告先交有关的专门委员会审议或者常务委员会有关的工作机构研究，提出意见。专门委员会、常务委员会有关的工作机构提出的意见，可以印发常务委员会会议。
第三十一条 常务委员会全体会议听取专项工作报告后，由分组会议、全体会议审议，必要时，也可以由联组会议审议。
常务委员会会议审议专项工作报告时，有关机关的负责人应当到会听取审议意见，回答询问。
第三十二条 常务委员会组成人员五人以上书面联名，对专项工作报告不满意并要求常务委员会会议表决的，由主任会议决定是否提请常务委员会会议表决。提请常务委员会会议表决的专项工作报告，常务委员会组成人员半数以上不满意的，常务委员会应当责成报告机关在本次会议或者下次会议作补充报告或者重作报告。
常务委员会组成人员半数以上对补充的报告或者重作的报告仍不满意的，常务委员会应当作出相应的决议、决定。
第三十三条 对列入常务委员会会议议题的其他报告，依照有关法律、法规的规定进行。
对列入常务委员会会议议题，进行书面审议的报告，常务委员会组成人员可以提出书面审议意见；也可以在分组会议、全体会议或者联组会议上发表意见。
第五章 发言和表决
第三十四条 常务委员会组成人员在常务委员会会议上的发言和表决不受法律追究。
第三十五条 常务委员会组成人员和列席会议的人员在全体会议和联组会议上的发言，一次不超过15分钟；要求延长发言时间的，经会议主持人同意，可以延长5分钟。再次发言的，不超过5分钟。
第三十六条 表决议案由常务委员会全体组成人员的过半数通过。
交付表决的议案，有修正案的，先表决修正案。
第三十七条 常务委员会表决议案，可以采用无记名方式或者其他方式。
法规案、人事任免案、决定表决的报告，采用无记名方式表决。
第三十八条 常务委员会组成人员投票表决时，可以投赞成票，可以投反对票，也可以弃权。
表决结果由会议主持人当场宣布。
第三十九条 常务委员会通过的地方性法规、决议、决定和任免名单，依照有关法规的规定在《安徽日报》上公布，并及时在《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会公报》上刊登。
常务委员会批准的地方性法规，由报请批准的机关公布。
第六章 附 则
第四十条 本规则自2003年8月1日施行。1988年6月27日安徽省第七届人民代表大会常务委员会第四次会议通过的《安徽省人民代表大会常务委员会议事规则》同时废止。
中华人民共和国加入议定书(英文本)
世界贸易组织法律文件
PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION OF
THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Preamble
The World Trade Organization ("WTO"), pursuant to the approval of the Ministerial Conference of the WTO accorded under Article XII of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization ("WTO Agreement"), and the People's Republic of China ("China"),
Recalling that China was an original contracting party to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947,
Taking note that China is a signatory to the Final Act Embodying the Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations,
Taking note of the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China in document WT/ACC/CHN/49 ("Working Party Report"),
Having regard to the results of the negotiations concerning China's membership in the WTO,
Agree as follows:
Part I - General Provisions
1. General
1. Upon accession, China accedes to the WTO Agreement pursuant to Article XII of that Agreement and thereby becomes a Member of the WTO.
2. The WTO Agreement to which China accedes shall be the WTO Agreement as rectified, amended or otherwise modified by such legal instruments as may have entered into force before the date of accession. This Protocol, which shall include the commitments referred to in paragraph 342 of the Working Party Report, shall be an integral part of the WTO Agreement.
3. Except as otherwise provided for in this Protocol, those obligations in the Multilateral Trade Agreements annexed to the WTO Agreement that are to be implemented over a period of time starting with entry into force of that Agreement shall be implemented by China as if it had accepted that Agreement on the date of its entry into force.
4. China may maintain a measure inconsistent with paragraph 1of Article II of the General Agreement on Trade in Services ("GATS") provided that such a measure is recorded in the List of Article II Exemptions annexed to this Protocol and meets the conditions of the Annex to the GATS on Article II Exemptions.
2. Administration of the Trade Regime
(A) Uniform Administration
1. The provisions of the WTO Agreement and this Protocol shall apply to the entire customs territory of China, including border trade regions and minority autonomous areas, Special Economic Zones, open coastal cities, economic and technical development zones and other areas where special regimes for tariffs, taxes and regulations are established (collectively referred to as "special economic areas").
2. China shall apply and administer in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner all its laws, regulations and other measures of the central government as well as local regulations, rules and other measures issued or applied at the sub-national level (collectively referred to as "laws, regulations and other measures") pertaining to or affecting trade in goods, services, trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights ("TRIPS") or the control of foreign exchange.
3. China's local regulations, rules and other measures of local governments at the sub-national level shall conform to the obligations undertaken in the WTO Agreement and this Protocol.
4. China shall establish a mechanism under which individuals and enterprises can bring to the attention of the national authorities cases of non-uniform application of the trade regime.
(B) Special Economic Areas
1. China shall notify to the WTO all the relevant laws, regulations and other measures relating to its special economic areas, listing these areas by name and indicating the geographic boundaries that define them. China shall notify the WTO promptly, but in any case within 60 days, of any additions or modifications to its special economic areas, including notification of the laws, regulations and other measures relating thereto.
2. China shall apply to imported products, including physically incorporated components, introduced into the other parts of China's customs territory from the special economic areas, all taxes, charges and measures affecting imports, including import restrictions and customs and tariff charges, that are normally applied to imports into the other parts of China's customs territory.
3. Except as otherwise provided for in this Protocol, in providing preferential arrangements for enterprises within such special economic areas, WTO provisions on non-discrimination and national treatment shall be fully observed.
(C) Transparency
1. China undertakes that only those laws, regulations and other measures pertaining to or affecting trade in goods, services, TRIPS or the control of foreign exchange that are published and readily available to other WTO Members, individuals and enterprises, shall be enforced. In addition, China shall make available to WTO Members, upon request, all laws, regulations and other measures pertaining to or affecting trade in goods, services, TRIPS or the control of foreign exchange before such measures are implemented or enforced. In emergency situations, laws, regulations and other measures shall be made available at the latest when they are implemented or enforced.
2. China shall establish or designate an official journal dedicated to the publication of all laws, regulations and other measures pertaining to or affecting trade in goods, services, TRIPS or the control of foreign exchange and, after publication of its laws, regulations or other measures in such journal, shall provide a reasonable period for comment to the appropriate authorities before such measures are implemented, except for those laws, regulations and other measures involving national security, specific measures setting foreign exchange rates or monetary policy and other measures the publication of which would impede law enforcement. China shall publish this journal on a regular basis and make copies of all issues of this journal readily available to individuals and enterprises.
3. China shall establish or designate an enquiry point where, upon request of any individual, enterprise or WTO Member all information relating to the measures required to be published under paragraph 2(C)1 of this Protocol may be obtained. Replies to requests for information shall generally be provided within 30 days after receipt of a request. In exceptional cases, replies may be provided within 45 days after receipt of a request. Notice of the delay and the reasons therefor shall be provided in writing to the interested party. Replies to WTO Members shall be complete and shall represent the authoritative view of the Chinese government. Accurate and reliable information shall be provided to individuals and enterprises.
(D) Judicial Review
1. China shall establish, or designate, and maintain 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, Article VI of the GATS and the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. Such tribunals shall be impartial and independent of the agency entrusted with administrative enforcement and shall not have any substantial interest in the outcome of the matter.
2. Review procedures shall include the opportunity for appeal, without penalty, by individuals or enterprises affected by any administrative action subject to review. If the initial right of appeal is to an administrative body, there shall in all cases be the opportunity to choose to appeal the decision to a judicial body. Notice of the decision on appeal shall be given to the appellant and the reasons for such decision shall be provided in writing. The appellant shall also be informed of any right to further appeal.
3. Non-discrimination
Except as otherwise provided for in this Protocol, foreign individuals and enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to other individuals and enterprises in respect of:
(a) the procurement of inputs and goods and services necessary for production and the conditions under which their goods are produced, marketed or sold, in the domestic market and for export; and
(b) the prices and availability of goods and services supplied by national and sub-national authorities and public or state enterprises, in areas including transportation, energy, basic telecommunications, other utilities and factors of production.
4. Special Trade Arrangements
Upon accession, China shall eliminate or bring into conformity with the WTO Agreement all special trade arrangements, including barter trade arrangements, with third countries and separate customs territories, which are not in conformity with the WTO Agreement.
5. Right to Trade
1. Without prejudice to China's right to regulate trade in a manner consistent with the WTO Agreement, China shall progressively liberalize the availability and scope of the right to trade, so that, within three years after accession, all enterprises in China shall have the right to trade in all goods throughout the customs territory of China, except for those goods listed in Annex 2A which continue to be subject to state trading in accordance with this Protocol. Such right to trade shall be the right to import and export goods. All such goods shall be accorded national treatment under Article III of the GATT 1994, especially paragraph 4 thereof, in respect of their internal sale, offering for sale, purchase, transportation, distribution or use, including their direct access to end-users. For those goods listed in Annex 2B, China shall phase out limitation on the grant of trading rights pursuant to the schedule in that Annex. China shall complete all necessary legislative procedures to implement these provisions during the transition period.
2. Except as otherwise provided for in this Protocol, all foreign individuals and enterprises, including those not invested or registered in China, shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to enterprises in China with respect to the right to trade.
6. State Trading
1. China shall ensure that import purchasing procedures of state trading enterprises are fully transparent, and in compliance with the WTO Agreement, and shall refrain from taking any measure to influence or direct state trading enterprises as to the quantity, value, or country of origin of goods purchased or sold, except in accordance with the WTO Agreement.
2. As part of China's notification under the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994, China shall also provide full information on the pricing mechanisms of its state trading enterprises for exported goods.
7. Non-Tariff Measures
1. China shall implement the schedule for phased elimination of the measures contained in Annex 3. During the periods specified in Annex 3, the protection afforded by the measures listed in that Annex shall not be increased or expanded in size, scope or duration, nor shall any new measures be applied, unless in conformity with the provisions of the WTO Agreement.
2. In implementing the provisions of Articles III and XI of the GATT 1994 and the Agreement on Agriculture, China shall eliminate and shall not introduce, re-introduce or apply non-tariff measures that cannot be justified under the provisions of the WTO Agreement. For all non-tariff measures, whether or not referred to in Annex 3, that are applied after the date of accession, consistent with the WTO Agreement or this Protocol, China shall allocate and otherwise administer such measures in strict conformity with the provisions of the WTO Agreement, including GATT 1994 and Article XIII thereof, and the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, including notification requirements.
3. China shall, upon accession, comply with the TRIMs Agreement, without recourse to the provisions of Article 5 of the TRIMs Agreement. China shall eliminate and cease to enforce trade and foreign exchange balancing requirements, local content and export or performance requirements made effective through laws, regulations or other measures. Moreover, China will not enforce provisions of contracts imposing such requirements. Without prejudice to the relevant provisions of this Protocol, China shall ensure that the distribution of import licences, quotas, tariff-rate quotas, or any other means of approval for importation, the right of importation or investment by national and sub-national authorities, is not conditioned on: whether competing domestic suppliers of such products exist; or performance requirements of any kind, such as local content, offsets, the transfer of technology, export performance or the conduct of research and development in China.
4. Import and export prohibitions and restrictions, and licensing requirements affecting imports and exports shall only be imposed and enforced by the national authorities or by sub-national authorities with authorization from the national authorities. Such measures which are not imposed by the national authorities or by sub-national authorities with authorization from the national authorities, shall not be implemented or enforced.
8. Import and Export Licensing
1. In implementing the WTO Agreement and provisions of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, China shall undertake the following measures to facilitate compliance with these agreements:
(a) China shall publish on a regular basis the following in the official journal referred to in paragraph 2(C)2 of this Protocol:
- by product, the list of all organizations, including those organizations delegated such authority by the national authorities, that are responsible for authorizing or approving imports or exports, whether through grant of licence or other approval;
- procedures and criteria for obtaining such import or export licences or other approvals, and the conditions for deciding whether they should be granted;
- a list of all products, by tariff number, that are subject to tendering requirements, including information on products subject to such tendering requirements and any changes, pursuant to the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures;
- a list of all goods and technologies whose import or export are restricted or prohibited; these goods shall also be notified to the Committee on Import Licensing;
- any changes to the list of goods and technologies whose import and export are restricted or prohibited.
Copies of these submissions in one or more official languages of the WTO shall be forwarded to the WTO for circulation to WTO Members and for submission to the Committee on Import Licensing within 75 days of each publication.
(b) China shall notify the WTO of all licensing and quota requirements remaining in effect after accession, listed separately by HS tariff line and with the quantities associated with the restriction, if any, and the justification for maintaining the restriction or its scheduled date of termination.
(c) China shall submit the notification of its import licensing procedures to the Committee on Import Licensing. China shall report annually to the Committee on Import Licensing on its automatic import licensing procedures, explaining the circumstances which give rise to these requirements and justifying the need for their continuation. This report shall also provide the information listed in Article 3 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.
(d) China shall issue import licences for a minimum duration of validity of six months, except where exceptional circumstances make this impossible. In such cases, China shall promptly notify the Committee on Import Licensing of the exceptional circumstances requiring the shorter period of licence validity.
2. Except as otherwise provided for in this Protocol, foreign individuals and enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to other individuals and enterprises in respect of the distribution of import and export licences and quotas.
9. Price Controls
1. China shall, subject to paragraph 2 below, allow prices for traded goods and services in every sector to be determined by market forces, and multi-tier pricing practices for such goods and services shall be eliminated.
2. The goods and services listed in Annex 4 may be subject to price controls, consistent with the WTO Agreement, in particular Article III of the GATT 1994 and Annex 2, paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Agreement on Agriculture. Except in exceptional circumstances, and subject to notification to the WTO, price controls shall not be extended to goods or services beyond those listed in Annex 4, and China shall make best efforts to reduce and eliminate these controls.
3. China shall publish in the official journal the list of goods and services subject to state pricing and changes thereto.
10. Subsidies
1. China shall notify the WTO of any subsidy within the meaning of Article 1 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures ("SCM Agreement"), granted or maintained in its territory, organized by specific product, including those subsidies defined in Article 3 of the SCM Agreement. The information provided should be as specific as possible, following the requirements of the questionnaire on subsidies as noted in Article 25 of the SCM Agreement.
2. For purposes of applying Articles 1.2 and 2 of the SCM Agreement, subsidies provided to state-owned enterprises will be viewed as specific if, inter alia, state-owned enterprises are the predominant recipients of such subsidies or state-owned enterprises receive disproportionately large amounts of such subsidies.
3. China shall eliminate all subsidy programmes falling within the scope of Article 3 of the SCM Agreement upon accession.
11. Taxes and Charges Levied on Imports and Exports
1. China shall ensure that customs fees or charges applied or administered by national or sub-national authorities, shall be in conformity with the GATT 1994.
2. China shall ensure that internal taxes and charges, including value-added taxes, applied or administered by national or sub-national authorities shall be in conformity with the GATT 1994.
3. China shall eliminate all taxes and charges applied to exports unless specifically provided for in Annex 6 of this Protocol or applied in conformity with the provisions of Article VIII of the GATT 1994.
4. Foreign individuals and enterprises and foreign-funded enterprises shall, upon accession, be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to other individuals and enterprises in respect of the provision of border tax adjustments.
12. Agriculture
1. China shall implement the provisions contained in China's Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods and, as specifically provided in this Protocol, those of the Agreement on Agriculture. In this context, China shall not maintain or introduce any export subsidies on agricultural products.
2. China shall, under the Transitional Review Mechanism, notify fiscal and other transfers between or among state-owned enterprises in the agricultural sector (whether national or sub-national) and other enterprises that operate as state trading enterprises in the agricultural sector.
13. Technical Barriers to Trade
1. China shall publish in the official journal all criteria, whether formal or informal, that are the basis for a technical regulation, standard or conformity assessment procedure.
2. China shall, upon accession, bring into conformity with the TBT Agreement all technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures.
3. China shall apply conformity assessment procedures to imported products only to determine compliance with technical regulations and standards that are consistent with the provisions of this Protocol and the WTO Agreement. Conformity assessment bodies will determine the conformity of imported products with commercial terms of contracts only if authorized by the parties to such contract. China shall ensure that such inspection of products for compliance with the commercial terms of contracts does not affect customs clearance or the granting of import licences for such products.
4. (a) Upon accession, China shall ensure that the same technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures are applied to both imported and domestic products. In order to ensure a smooth transition from the current system, China shall ensure that, upon accession, all certification, safety licensing, and quality licensing bodies and agencies are authorized to undertake these activities for both imported and domestic products, and that, one year after accession, all conformity assessment bodies and agencies are authorized to undertake conformity assessment for both imported and domestic products. The choice of body or agency shall be at the discretion of the applicant. For imported and domestic products, all bodies and agencies shall issue the same mark and charge the same fee. They shall also provide the same processing periods and complaint procedures. Imported products shall not be subject to more than one conformity assessment. China shall publish and make readily available to other WTO Members, individuals, and enterprises full information on the respective responsibilities of its conformity assessment bodies and agencies.
(b) No later than 18 months after accession, China shall assign the respective responsibilities of its conformity assessment bodies solely on the basis of the scope of work and type of product without any consideration of the origin of a product. The respective responsibilities that will be assigned to China's conformity assessment bodies will be notified to the TBT Committee 12 months after accession.
14. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
China shall notify to the WTO all laws, regulations and other measures relating to its sanitary and phytosanitary measures, including product coverage and relevant international standards, guidelines and recommendations, within 30 days after accession.
15. Price Comparability in Determining Subsidies and Dumping
Article VI of the GATT 1994, the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("Anti-Dumping Agreement") and the SCM Agreement shall apply in proceedings involving imports of Chinese origin into a WTO Member consistent with the following:
(a) In determining price comparability under Article VI of the GATT 1994 and the Anti-Dumping Agreement, the importing WTO Member shall use either Chinese prices or costs for the industry under investigation or a methodology that is not based on a strict comparison with domestic prices or costs in China based on the following rules:
(i) If the producers under investigation can clearly show that market economy conditions prevail in the industry producing the like product with regard to the manufacture, production and sale of that product, the importing WTO Member shall use Chinese prices or costs for the industry under investigation in determining price comparability;
(ii) The importing WTO Member may use a methodology that is not based on a strict comparison with domestic prices or costs in China if the producers under investigation cannot clearly show that market economy conditions prevail in the industry producing the like product with regard to manufacture, production and sale of that product.
(b) In proceedings under Parts II, III and V of the SCM Agreement, when addressing subsidies described in Articles 14(a), 14(b), 14(c) and 14(d), relevant provisions of the SCM Agreement shall apply; however, if there are special difficulties in that application, the importing WTO Member may then use methodologies for identifying and measuring the subsidy benefit which take into account the possibility that prevailing terms and conditions in China may not always be available as appropriate benchmarks. In applying such methodologies, where practicable, the importing WTO Member should adjust such prevailing terms and conditions before considering the use of terms and conditions prevailing outside China.
(c) The importing WTO Member shall notify methodologies used in accordance with subparagraph (a) to the Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices and shall notify methodologies used in accordance with subparagraph (b) to the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
(d) Once China has established, under the national law of the importing WTO Member, that it is a market economy, the provisions of subparagraph (a) shall be terminated provided that the importing Member's national law contains market economy criteria as of the date of accession. In any event, the provisions of subparagraph (a)(ii) shall expire 15 years after the date of accession. In addition, should China establish, pursuant to the national law of the importing WTO Member, that market economy conditions prevail in a particular industry or sector, the non-market economy provisions of subparagraph (a) shall no longer apply to that industry or sector.
16. Transitional Product-Specific Safeguard Mechanism
1. In cases where products of Chinese origin are being imported into the territory of any WTO Member in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products, the WTO Member so affected may request consultations with China with a view to seeking a mutually satisfactory solution, including whether the affected WTO Member should pursue application of a measure under the Agreement on Safeguards. Any such request shall be notified immediately to the Committee on Safeguards.
2. If, in the course of these bilateral consultations, it is agreed that imports of Chinese origin are such a cause and that action is necessary, China shall take such action as to prevent or remedy the market disruption. Any such action shall be notified immediately to the Committee on Safeguards.
3. If consultations do not lead to an agreement between China and the WTO Member concerned within 60 days of the receipt of a request for consultations, the WTO Member affected shall be free, in respect of such products, to withdraw concessions or otherwise to limit imports only to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy such market disruption. Any such action shall be notified immediately to the Committee on Safeguards.
4. Market disruption shall exist whenever imports of an article, like or directly competitive with an article produced by the domestic industry, are increasing rapidly, either absolutely or relatively, so as to be a significant cause of material injury, or threat of material injury to the domestic industry. In determining if market disruption exists, the affected WTO Member shall consider objective factors, including the volume of imports, the effect of imports on prices for like or directly competitive articles, and the effect of such imports on the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products.
5. Prior to application of a measure pursuant to paragraph 3, the WTO Member taking such action shall provide reasonable public notice to all interested parties and provide adequate opportunity for importers, exporters and other interested parties to submit their views and evidence on the appropriateness of the proposed measure and whether it would be in the public interest. The WTO Member shall provide written notice of the decision to apply a measure, including the reasons for such measure and its scope and duration.
6. A WTO Member shall apply a measure pursuant to this Section only for such period of time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy the market disruption. If a measure is taken as a result of a relative increase in the level of imports, China has the right to suspend the application of substantially equivalent concessions or obligations under the GATT 1994 to the trade of the WTO Member applying the measure, if such measure remains in effect more than two years. However, if a measure is taken as a result of an absolute increase in imports, China has a right to suspend the application of substantially equivalent concessions or obligations under the GATT 1994 to the trade of the WTO Member applying the measure, if such measure remains in effect more than three years. Any such action by China shall be notified immediately to the Committee on Safeguards.
7. In critical circumstances, where delay would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair, the WTO Member so affected may take a provisional safeguard measure pursuant to a preliminary determination that imports have caused or threatened to cause market disruption. In this case, notification of the measures taken to the Committee on Safeguards and a request for bilateral consultations shall be effected immediately thereafter. The duration of the provisional measure shall not exceed 200 days during which the pertinent requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 shall be met. The duration of any provisional measure shall be counted toward the period provided for under paragraph 6.
8. If a WTO Member considers that an action taken under paragraphs 2, 3 or 7 causes or threatens to cause significant diversions of trade into its market, it may request consultations with China and/or the WTO Member concerned. Such consultations shall be held within 30 days after the request is notified to the Committee on Safeguards. If such consultations fail to lead to an agreement between China and the WTO Member or Members concerned within 60 days after the notification, the requesting WTO Member shall be free, in respect of such product, to withdraw concessions accorded to or otherwise limit imports from China, to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy such diversions. Such action shall be notified immediately to the Committee on Safeguards.
9. Application of this Section shall be terminated 12 years after the date of accession.
17. Reservations by WTO Members
All prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and other measures maintained by WTO Members against imports from China in a manner inconsistent with the WTO Agreement are listed in Annex 7. All such prohibitions, quantitative restrictions and other measures shall be phased out or dealt with in accordance with mutually agreed terms and timetables as specified in the said Annex.
18. Transitional Review Mechanism
1. Those subsidiary bodies1 of the WTO which have a mandate covering China's commitments under the WTO Agreement or this Protocol shall, within one year after accession and in accordance with paragraph 4 below, review, as appropriate to their mandate, the implementation by China of the WTO Agreement and of the related provisions of this Protocol. China shall provide relevant information, including information specified in Annex 1A, to each subsidiary body in advance of the review. China can also raise issues relating to any reservations under Section 17 or to any other specific commitments made by other Members in this Protocol, in those subsidiary bodies which have a relevant mandate. Each subsidiary body shall report the results of such review promptly to the relevant Council established by paragraph 5 of Article IV of the WTO Agreement, if applicable, which shall in turn report promptly to the General Council.
2. The General Council shall, within one year after accession, and in accordance with paragraph 4 below, review the implementation by China of the WTO Agreement and the provisions of this Protocol. The General Council shall conduct such review in accordance with the framework set out in Annex 1B and in the light of the results of any reviews held pursuant to paragraph 1. China also can raise issues relating to any reservations under Section 17 or to any other specific commitments made by other Members in this Protocol. The General Council may make recommendations to China and to other Members in these respects.
3. Consideration of issues pursuant to this Section shall be without prejudice to the rights and obligations of any Member, including China, under the WTO Agreement or any Plurilateral Trade Agreement, and shall not preclude or be a precondition to recourse to consultation or other provisions of the WTO Agreement or this Protocol.
4. The review provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 will take place after accession in each year for eight years. Thereafter there will be a final review in year 10 or at an earlier date decided by the General Council.
Part II - Schedules
1. The Schedules annexed to this Protocol shall become the Schedule of Concessions and Commitments annexed to the GATT 1994 and the Schedule of Specific Commitments annexed to the GATS relating to China. The staging of concessions and commitments listed in the Schedules shall be implemented as specified in the relevant parts of the relevant Schedules.
2. For the purpose of the reference in paragraph 6(a) of Article II of the GATT 1994 to the date of that Agreement, the applicable date in respect of the Schedules of Concessions and Commitments annexed to this Protocol shall be the date of accession.
Part III - Final Provisions
1. This Protocol shall be open for acceptance, by signature or otherwise, by China until 1 January 2002.
2. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the day of its acceptance.
3. This Protocol shall be deposited with the Director-General of the WTO. The Director-General shall promptly furnish a certified copy of this Protocol and a notification of acceptance by China thereof, pursuant to paragraph 1 of Part III of this Protocol, to each WTO Member and to China.
4. This Protocol shall be registered in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Done at Doha this tenth day of November two thousand and one, in a single copy, in the English, French and Spanish languages, each text being authentic, except that a Schedule annexed hereto may specify that it is authentic in only one or more of these languages.
1 Council for Trade in Goods, Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Council for Trade in Services, Committees on Balance-of-Payments Restrictions, Market Access (covering also ITA), Agriculture, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Anti-Dumping Measures, Customs Valuation, Rules of Origin, Import Licensing, Trade-Related Investment Measures, Safeguards, Trade in Financial Services.
