China Slated to join the WTO

Back to Map Page October, 1999 Beijing, China President Clinton's meetings with Chinese leaders in October 1999 has paved the way for China eventually to join the World Trade Organization. Eventual membership will make trade much easier between China and other countries, in theory increasing the ability of Chinese citizens to acquire the consumer goods that other countries enjoy. The World Trade Organization is a body of representatives from corporations based in the world's major trading nations. Nations that are members of the WTO allow the organization to impose some trade regulations, and in return "fair" trade is to be expected among member states. The theory behind the organization and its efforts to reduce trade barriers is that free movement of capital makes everybody wealthier. There is some worry that free market conditions can increase the cost of living, as well as providing access to luxury goods. This fear is especially strong in countries such as China that have long blocked the circulation of luxuries but have been very successful in holding down the cost of basic amenities such as housing, food, education, and health care for the average citizen. Economists argue that free trade will improve the living conditions of all Chinese. If this occurs as predicted, more of the 1.1 billion Chinese citizens will have access to refrigerators, cars, televisions, and disposable goods that Americans and Europeans take for granted. The idea of a billion more cars and refrigerators on the earth, along with more paved roads, air pollution, consumption of oil and plastic, and production of garbage, is an idea that terrifies many environmentalists world-wide. If every Chinese person threw away as much paper and plastic as the average American, what would that do to world resource availability and to air and water pollution globally? On the other hand, if Americans, at 5% of the world's population, consume 20% of the world's resources, who are we to criticize the opportunity for Chinese citizens to participate in our consumer society? This is a basic conundrum in environmental science. China's eventual entry into the WTO will make this question much more real, and less hypothetical, in the near future. To read more, see Environmental Science, A Global Concern, Cunningham and Saigo, 5th ed. Economic growth rates: page 177 Trade, development, and jobs: pages 173-177 Sustainable development: pages 178-79 Environmental Science, Enger and Smith, 6th ed. Science versus policy: page 6 Interrelated nature of environmental problems: page 5-7 For further information, see these related web sites: Asian news media explanations of the WTO and its effects in Asia Water quality and wastewater treatment in China (student research paper from the University of California) Back to Map Page feedback form | permissions | international | locate your campus rep | request a review copy digital solutions | publish with us | customer service | mhhe home Copyright ©2001 The McGraw-Hill Companies. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. McGraw-Hill Higher Education is one of the many fine businesses of the The McGraw-Hill Companies.