Beijing has released a new report, detailing its progress, commitments, and contribution to the global economy. Since China joined the WTO in 2001, it has been honoring its commitments to boosting trade in goods and services, and strengthening intellectual property rights protection. China is stepping up its opening-up process and making a contribution to a stable, transparent, multilateral trading system.  

China has been reducing import costs to boost trade. By 2010, China had fulfilled all of its tariff reduction commitments, reducing the average tariff level from 15.3 percent in 2001 to 9.8 percent. The average tariff rates for manufactured goods and agricultural products have been lowered significantly. The numbers are far lower than those imposed by the WTO's developing members.  

In addition, non-tariff barriers have been reduced. By 2005, China had eliminated import quotas, import licenses, and some import tendering requirements. The measures cover 424 items such as automobiles, machinery and electronic products, and natural rubber.  

The government has also diversified entities and stimulated their enthusiasm to engage in foreign trade. In 2017, foreign trade by private companies and foreign-invested enterprises accounted for about 84 percent of the country's total trade volume. The private sectors have taken the largest share of China's exports.  

Intellectual property rights protection also tops the country's commitments. In 2017, China received about 1.4 million invention patent applications. About 10 percent of the applicants were foreign entities and individuals. 51,000 patent applications filed from China through the Patent Cooperation Treaty were accepted in 2017, second only to the US.  

China has provided the WTO with transparent notifications on a solid legal basis. By January 2018, China had submitted over one thousand notifications covering central and sub-central subsidy policies, agriculture, IPR laws and regulations.