SUMMARY OF U.S.-CHINA BILATERAL WTO AGREEMENT(3)
INSURANCE
Currently, only two U.S. insurers have access to China's market. Under the agreement:
China agreed to award licenses solely on the basis of prudential criteria, with no economic-needs test or quantitative limits on the number of licenses issued.
China will progressively eliminate all geographic limitations within 3 years. Internal branching will be permitted consistent with the elimination of these restrictions.
China will expand the scope of activities for foreign insurers to include group, health and pension lines of insurance, phased in over 5 years. Foreign property and casualty firms will be able to insure large-scale commercial risks nationwide immediately upon accession.
China agreed to allow 50 percent ownership for life insurance. Life insurers may also choose their own joint venture partners. For non-life, China will allow branching or 51 percent ownership on accession and wholly owned subsidiaries in 2 years. Reinsurance is completely open upon accession (100 percent, no restrictions).
BANKING
Currently foreign banks are not permitted to do local currency business with Chinese clients (a few can engage in local currency business with their foreign clients). China imposes severe geographic restrictions on the establishment of foreign banks.
China has committed to full market access in five years for U.S. banks.
Foreign banks will be able to conduct local currency business with Chinese enterprises starting 2 years after accession.
Foreign banks will be able to conduct local currency business with Chinese individuals from 5 years after accession.
Foreign banks will have the same rights (national treatment) as Chinese banks within designated geographic areas.
Both geographic and customer restrictions will be removed in five years.
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