Achieving Food Security in China: implications of World Trade Organisation accession

This report summarises the results of a study of the implications of World Trade Organization (WTO) accession for Chinas agricultural sector. The project began three years prior to Chinas accession to the WTO, but it was anticipated that the accession application would be successful. It was important, therefore, to understand fully the effects that the accession commitments could have within China. There was a concern to see that Chinese policy makers appreciated the benefits that would flow from trade liberalisation. At the same time, it was understood that the trade reforms would lead to structural adjustments involving the reduction of some activities, with an ensuing loss of employment and asset values. It was desirable for policy makers to have an understanding of these consequences, as this would reduce the chances of the adoption of poor policies in response to any perceived or actual adverse impacts. Another objective of the project was to analyse various policy options, to offer input into Chinas policy-making process.