China Won't Make New GPA Offer, Leaving Accession Talks At Standstill
China has said it will not submit a sixth revised offer to join the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), saying it would not be ready to do so until it completes ongoing "reforms" to its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and military procurement practices, leaving the sluggish eight-year-old accession talks at a standstill, according to Geneva sources. Chinese officials conveyed that message at an informal meeting of the GPA Committee on Sept. 16. In addition to the ongoing reforms, Beijing...