Assessing the Impacts of China’s Accession to the WTO

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of China's accession to the WTO after 22 years, from the perspective of political, economic, and social impacts. The findings of this paper demonstrate that China's accession has had a generally positive impact on its politics and economy. China's international standing has been increasing due to its growing economy. With the rapid growth in trade flow, China has experienced continuous trade surpluses. The labor-intensive manufacturing industry has experienced significant growth, particularly in electronics, textiles, and clothing. Although the automotive and agriculture industries have struggled to compete with international enterprises. However, the social impact that WTO accession has brought to the country was generally negative. Income inequality and educational attainment in China remain concerns post-accession. These findings can inform relevant policymakers and stakeholders in developing appropriate measures for the future.