Uniform administration of trade policy

The WTO requires that its members implement uniform trade policies. According to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Trade approved by the People's Congress in 1994, a uniform trade policy has been established in China. As such, China has committed to implementing its uniform trade policy throughout the entire customs territory of China.

China's WTO accession protocol shall apply to the entire customs territory of China, including border trade regions and minority autonomous areas, Special Economic Zones (SEZ), 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'). China will 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 pertaining to or affecting trade in goods, services, trade- related aspects of intellectual property rights or the control of foreign exchange.