Geneva: China has appealed against a
World Trade Organization ruling that ordered Beijing to ease
some of its curbs on foreign films, music and print, a close
source to the WTO said today.
"China has appealed today," said the source, referring to
a dispute raised at the WTO by the United States in 2007.
The WTO's dispute settlement panel in August found that
China was breaching international trade rules by blocking
foreign-owned companies from acting as importers and
wholesalers of films, music and printed material.
It therefore asked Beijing to conform to global trade
rules on the issue.
The question of foreign access to China's media market
has been a bone of contention for years.
"Distribution of foreign films remains highly restricted,
with some internationally top grossing movies unauthorised for
domestic distribution," the American Chamber of Commerce
argued in a white paper earlier this year.
"China stands to gain from greater film distribution in
many ways, including better development of the indigenous film
industry and reduction in demand for pirated movies as
legitimate access to international titles is increased."
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 18:50