China to submit new proposal to join WTO procurement agreement

China will submit a new proposal to the World Trade Organization to join the government procurement agreement next month, Reuters reported, citing statements by Chinese trade officials. Yi Xiaozhun, vice-minister of commerce, told WTO members that China will make the proposal before the next meeting of the WTO government procurement committee. The announcement comes as China’s trade partners grow increasingly concerned about China’s protection of domestic industries through preferential procurement policies, including the "indigenous innovation" policy and subtler forms of discrimination implemented at regional levels. China first applied to join the WTO government procurement agreement in December 2007 but other member states were dissatisfied with the terms offered.