Taiwan and the WTO

Who can be a member of an international organization?  And who gets to decide who gets to be a member?  Those questions arise each time I teach International Organizations and other international law courses. 

In that context, it comes as a surprise to many that although Chinese Taipei is not an individual member of the United Nations, Chinese Taipei is a member of the World Trade Organization.  (And in case you were wondering, there are now 153 members of the WTO.)

The WTO Secretariat has just issued its trade policy review for the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.  The report says that Chinese Taipei’s economy would improve with more flexibility and more competitiveness.

Click here to read a WTO press release on the customs territory’s trade policies and practices.  (That page has many further links of interest).

Click here for the Chair's concluding remarks or, if you prefer, click here for the audio.

And click here for more general information on Chinese Taipei from the WTO.

Click here for the current list of 153 WTO members.  Chinese Taipei is in that list, which is otherwise alphabetical except that Chinese Taipei appears where it would otherwise read "Taiwan."  Have a look!

(mew)