No reason to deny China market economy status

The European Union will take the first step on Wednesday to debate on whether to grant China "market economy status".

The Clause 2 of Article 15 of the Protocol of China's Accession to the World Trade Organization says that when another WTO member launches an anti-dumping investigation into the products imported from China, it should not use the prices of products in China's domestic market but rather the prices of those products from a third (alternative) country as comparison.

This discriminatory practice, to be maintained for 15 years - that is, until the end of 2016 - has forced Chinese enterprises to often face unfair anti-dumping investigations by other countries. The refusal to grant China rights similar to those enjoyed by other WTO members has dealt heavy blows to Chinese companies. And it's time the WTO prevented other members from taking advantage of the discriminatory policy - which in a way would also mean recognizing China as a market economy.