World Trade Organisation WTO : accession of China, Community position

In approving the resolution by Mr Per GAHRTON (Greens/EFA, S), the European Parliament has expressed firm backing for the WTO membership application of China. A large part of the accession negotiations with the EU focuses on services. China's commitment cover a wide range of service sectors form insurance companies to banks and even part of the telecoms sector. China has also pledged to abide fully by the rules of the TRIPs Agreement (protection of intellectual property rights). For its part, the EU has always accorded China most favoured nation status. There will thus be virtually no new obligations for the EU arising from China's membership. �