On what date did China become a member of the World Trade Organization?

China became a member of the World Trade Organization on 11 December 2001.

China’s accession followed a lengthy negotiation process involving commitments on tariffs, market access, services and other trade rules. The WTO approved the accession package at its Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001.

China deposited its instrument of ratification and became the organization’s 143rd member on 11 December 2001. Its entry was one of the most significant enlargements in the WTO’s early history because of China’s population, production capacity and growing role in world commerce.

A common mix-up is confusing the approval date with the membership date. The Doha conference adopted the accession documents in November, while membership formally began in December. China’s accession is also distinct from Taiwan’s WTO entry, which occurred in January 2002 under the name Chinese Taipei.