This article analyzes the process and probable effects of China’s entry into the WTO
from several different angles. The prospect of China’s membership has been
controversial, both within China and in the international community, slowing the process
considerably. A key factor pushing China’s application forward has been China’s
significant move toward a market-oriented economy in the 1990s. However, adapting to
the negotiated WTO package will be only part of the major changes China is likely to
experience in the coming decade.