Future Shock: The WTO and Political Change in China


 

Publication Date: February 2001

Publisher: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Author(s): Minxin Pei

Research Area: Economics; Government

Type: Brief

Coverage: China

Abstract:

China's impending WTO entry will pose unprecedented economic and political challenges to the Chinese government. Initial adjustments to WTO entry are expected to increase the pains of reform and pressures on the government. U.S.-China relations could deteriorate as bilateral tensions over trade and human rights increase. Despite the long-term promises of WTO entry for China's economic and political reform, the Chinese government's ability to overcome these short-term difficulties is not assured because of the inherent weaknesses of the current Chinese political system and accumulated social and political stress in the Chinese society.