years, especially the significantly increased dependence of the EU on China amid
the ensuing internationalfinancial crisis, the world economic recession and the
European debt crisis since the second half of 2008. Otherwise, in light of judgments
made in the review of China in 2008, China has not been so relaxed in recent years.
Fifth, views from both sides were also designed to be conveyed to other core WTO
members, especially the USA, and at least gave an indirect warning to the USA.
Neither side wasted opportunities since both sides repeatedly expressed concerns
about issues affecting their own interests in respective trade policy and practice and
explicitly specified requirements.
6.4 Cooperation Regarding Other Matters
The Chinese side believes that“keeping good cooperative relations”between the
delegations of the two sides towards the WTO is not only a diplomatic parlance but
it also reveals real“good cooperation”between the two sides in the construction of
WTO mechanisms and major international matters. Take just one example. China
nominated its own candidate for membership in the Appellate Body in 2007,
suggesting a breakthrough in the unofficial“political pattern”available for many
years in the Appellate Body.^23 First, the candidate nominated by China was sup-
ported by the core members, including the EU; second, the representative from
Chinese Taipei, China attempted to thwart the approval of the candidate nominated
by the Chinese Mainland in the meeting, while four other members, except Chinese
Mainland itself, immediately opposed Chinese Taipei’s proposal, and the EU was
one of these four members. In a subsequent interim meeting, the EU once again
expressed opposition against Chinese Taipei’s position. China’s candidate was
ultimately appointed to membership, which meant that China smoothly entered the
list of“permanent members”of the Appellate Body.
Concerning other matters, the European Commission and the Chinese Ministry
of Commerce jointly launched the“China-EU World Trade Program”in June,
2004, which aims at supporting China’s integration into the world trade system.
This program is the third trade-related technical assistance program between China
and the EU since 2000^24 and also one of the EU’s largest bilateral assistance
(^23) According to the WTO’sUnderstanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of
Disputes(DSU), the Appellate Body shall be made up of persons of recognized authority, with
demonstrated expertise in law, international trade and the subject matter of the covered agreements
generally. They shall be unaffiliated with any government. The Appellate Body membership shall
be broadly representative of membership in the WTO. In practice, as a“political convention”,
persons nominated by core members such as the USA, the EU and India, etc. are“permanent
members”among the seven members of the Appellate Body. The“Political pattern”of the
Appellate Body had taken shape when China acceded to the WTO in 2001.
(^24) http://www.euctp.org/index.php/projectbackground.html.
134 L. Heng