Statues of "peace" and "justice" flank the entrance to the WTO, Geneva: artist Luc Jaggi sculpted them in 1925

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - China reacted with disappointment Thursday 13 August to the report issued by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on its publications and audiovisual materials dispute with the US. The WTO ruled that China must open its market more to the import of US films, DVDs, books and music downloads to respect commitments made when it joined the WTO in 2001.

The report is in response to what is officially labeled a “complaint by the United States against ‘China — Measures affecting trading rights and distribution services for certain publications and audiovisual entertainment products’.”

China’s Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian called the appeal decision “regrettable”, saying that his country has imported some 500,000 publications and materials in these categories every year since 2001, in line with its 2001 WTO agreement. He said China would not rule out an appeal as it studies the decision. It has 20-60 days to lodge an appeal, as does the US.

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, currently in Senegal, greeted the decision in a statement as a step forward, calling it “an important step toward ensuring market access for legitimate US products in the Chinese market, as well as ensuring market access for US exporters and distributors of those products.”

The decision came while Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi was in Geneva to receive an honorary doctoral degree from the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations. He also met with World Health Organization’s director general, Margaret Chan.

Related: Reuters

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