Houston Community News >> Taiwan Shows Muscle in WTO
11/28/2007-- Chinese Taipei's envoy to the
World Trade Organization last week blocked the proposed appointment of a
Chinese lawyer to the WTO's seven-member Dispute Settlement Body (DSB),
which rules on key trade disputes, citing the possibility of bias.
Taipei's delegation, now the spokesman of the recently acceded members'
group, said in a press release that it had "deep concerns about the
impartiality and qualification of one of the recommended candidates,"
without naming the person.
"There have been countless examples of foul play by China to try to discriminate against and suppress Taiwan since we joined the WTO, and we couldn't help but think our rights and interests could be undermined if a judge is to represent China."
The Chinese candidate in question is Ms. Zhang Yeu-jiao, an attorney in the Beijing office of Jun He Law Offices, and a professor at China's Shantou University. She was one of three women and one man nominated to fill approaching vacancies in the DSB. The other three candidates are from the U.S., Japan and the Philippines.
Fluent in English and French, Zhang acted as legal counsel for China during its WTO accession talks and was one of the chief negotiators in intellectual property discussions with the U.S. and EU.
Taiwan would back off if Zhang's impartiality was assured.
As WTO decisions are made by consensus, Taiwan's objection means that the DSB is suspended, leaving current complaints against U.S. agricultural subsidies and Chinese intellectual property restrictions unanswered.
By law, member states can seek a ruling from a WTO dispute panel if they believe another country is violating trading rules. The DSB judges handle appeals against panel findings.
"There have been countless examples of foul play by China to try to discriminate against and suppress Taiwan since we joined the WTO, and we couldn't help but think our rights and interests could be undermined if a judge is to represent China."
The Chinese candidate in question is Ms. Zhang Yeu-jiao, an attorney in the Beijing office of Jun He Law Offices, and a professor at China's Shantou University. She was one of three women and one man nominated to fill approaching vacancies in the DSB. The other three candidates are from the U.S., Japan and the Philippines.
Fluent in English and French, Zhang acted as legal counsel for China during its WTO accession talks and was one of the chief negotiators in intellectual property discussions with the U.S. and EU.
Taiwan would back off if Zhang's impartiality was assured.
As WTO decisions are made by consensus, Taiwan's objection means that the DSB is suspended, leaving current complaints against U.S. agricultural subsidies and Chinese intellectual property restrictions unanswered.
By law, member states can seek a ruling from a WTO dispute panel if they believe another country is violating trading rules. The DSB judges handle appeals against panel findings.
(Contributed by China Post)