China’s Grain TRQs: Five Years Since WTO Accession

In December 2001, China was accepted to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Many anticipated that, following China's accession to the WTO, its grain imports would increase rapidly. To mitigate the likely strong shock on Chinese grain producers' income and its grains industry, China was allowed a 'transition period' of a few years. During this transition period, China's grain imports would be managed under a TRQ (tariff-rate quota) arrangement. That is, if the imports are within the quota, a lower in-quota tariff will be charged; otherwise, a much higher out-quota tariff applies. The higher above-quota tariff would discourage imports and thus would provide protection to Chinese farmers and its grains industry. Five years have passed since China became a member of the WTO. Then, what has happened to China's grain trade under the TRQ arrangement? How did China implement the grains TRQ? Were China's TRQ practices in alignment with WTO rules? Such questions have continuously drawn much interest from grain traders and many international observers. Australia, as a major grain exporter, has also paid much attention to looking for answers to such questions. So far, however, little effort has been made to examine China's grain TRQ implementation and management. This study attempts to fill this gap.