China Increasingly Relying on WTO

China could be forgiven for feeling aggrieved after the World Trade Organization ruled against its curbs on audiovisual imports this week.

Photo: China Increasingly Relying on WTO

Far from it. An emergent China is increasingly relying on the WTO to make sure its exporters have fair access to global markets.

After China entered the WTO in 2001, it was usually on the defensive as other countries sought to dismantle the many barriers to entering the world's fastest growing major economy , Reuters reports.

China said Thursday it might appeal a major World Trade Organization ruling that told Beijing to ease restrictions on imported movies, music and books in its latest trade dispute with Washington. The Commerce Ministry insisted Beijing does not hamper imports of media products, despite Wednesday's decision by a WTO panel of experts that it violates free-trade rules by forcing such products to be routed through Chinese state-owned companies , The Associated Press reports.

"China expresses regret that the panel did not reject the US complaint about the import and distribution of printed material, films and music," commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian said in a statement.

"China will carefully evaluate the panel's report and does not rule out appealing on issues of concern to the Chinese side," he said in the statement , AFP reports.