README.TXT

This file describes the contents of the zip file: gaochnawtodb_access2002.zip, and the
CD-Rom: GAO's Electronic Database of China's WTO Commitments (v2).  Both contain 
the same files.

NOTE 1: The electronic database is a Microsoft Access 2002 '.mdb' file.  Users need
to have MS Access 2002 installed on their computers to use the file.  If you are 
unsure whether you have MS Access 2002 on your computer, you can try double clicking
on the file.  If it opens, you have the software. For users that do not have MS 
Access 2002, the zip file and the CD-Rom both contain the underlying datafiles saved
as tab-delimited text '.txt' files and can be imported into other software.  These 
files are described in below.

NOTE 2: The methodology GAO used to create this database and analyze China's WTO 
commitments is described in the GAO report, World Trade Organization: Analysis of 
China's Commitments to Other Members (GAO-03-4, October 3, 2002, Washington, D.C.) 
and can be found on GAO's website, www.GAO.gov.  This report will provide more 
information on the variables listed below in each data file.

NOTE 3: If you have technical questions or feedback, please contact Adam Cowles,
Assistant Director, GAO by e-mail: cowlesa@gao.gov.


1.  Summary of Files 

"GAO_03_797R.pdf"  This is the June 13, 2003 GAO correspondence (GAO's Electronic
Database of China's World Trade Organization Commitments) that describes the
database.

"GAO_China_WTO_DB_Access2002_v1.mde"  This is the MS Access 2002 database of China's WTO 
commitments. The database contains detailed instructions on how to use and search it.
An overview of the database is provided in the GAO correspondence (GAO-03-797R)
listed above.

"WT_ACC_CHN_49.doc"  This is a World Trade Organization document in MS Word that 
contains China's Protocol, Working Party Report, and Annexes 1 - 7 from the 
agreement.

"WT_Chn49a1.mdb"  This is a World Trade Organization database in MS Access that contains
China's goods (tariffs) schedule, which is Annex 8 of the agreement.

"WT_ACC_CHN_49_ADD2.doc"  This is a World Trade Organization document that contains 
China's Services schedule, which is Annex 9 of the agreement.

"X_GAO_Protocol_WorkingParty.txt" This is tab-delimited text file that contains GAO's
electronic version of China's Protocol and Working Party Report documents from the 
agreement.  The fields of this file are described under #2 below. 

"X_GAO_Tariffs_NTMs.txt"  This is a tab-delimited text file  that contains GAO's 
electronic version of China's tariff schedule and non-tariff measures. The fields 
of this file are described under #3 below. 

"X_GAO_Services.txt"  This is a tab-delimited text file  that contains GAO's 
electronic version of China's services schedule. The fields of this file are 
described under #4 below.


2.  Data Fields in "GAO_Protocol_WorkingParty.txt"  

This file is a tab-delimited text file that can be imported into a variety of 
spreadsheet and database software packages.  It was extracted from 
"GAO_China_WTO_DB_Access2002_v1.mdb" and contains 916 records. The first line of the file
contains the field names.  Each record contains one text paragraph from China's 
Protocol, Working Party Report, Annex 1, or the headnotes to Annex 8.  GAO's 
analysis of these paragraphs is included.  

List of Fields:

--Order: numeric field; sequential ordering of records (1-660) with some numbers repeating.
--Code: text field; paragraph numbering for each record (e.g. P.I.6.).
--GAOcat: GAO's classification of the record into one of several broad categories (e.g. services).
--GAOsubcat: GAO's classification of the record into one of several narrow categories.
--RepSection: agreement's section headings for each record.
--Text: memo field (>255 characters); paragraph text from the agreement.
--Commitment: memo field (>255 characters); GAo's description of specific commitments in each record.
--Definit: numeric--0 or 1; 1=definitional commitment.
--Guid: numeric--0 or 1; 1=guidance commitment.
--Transp: numeric--0 or 1; 1=transparency commitment.
--RepReq: numeric--0 or 1; 1=reporting requirement commitment.
--Nondis: numeric--0 or 1; 1=nondiscrimination commitment.
--Adhere: numeric--0 or 1; 1=adhere to WTO commitment.
--Law/Reg: numeric--0 or 1; 1=law or regulation commitment.
--Pract: numeric--0 or 1; 1=practice commitment.
--Create: numeric--0 or 1; 1=create/modify commitment.
--Rep: numeric--0 or 1; 1=repeal commitment.
--Ref: numeric--0 or 1; 1=refrain commitment.
--Other: numeric--0 or 1; 1=other commitment.
--Phaseout: numeric--0 or 1; 1=phaseout period.
--Phase: text description of phaseout/in period.
--EndRecord: numeric; Always =1 to indicate end of record.


3.  Data fields in "GAO_Tariffs_NTMs.txt"

This file is a tab-delimited text file that can be imported into a variety of 
spreadsheet and database software packages.  It was extracted from 
"GAO_China_WTO_DB_v1.mdb" and contains 7,158 records. The first line of the file
contains the field names.  Each record contains one tariff (product) line from 
China's tariff schedule and marked with an 8-digit code (HS8num).  China's 
Commitments on nontariff measures (ntms) is included.  

List of Fields:
 
--HS8num: text; 8 digit harmonized system (HS) product code.
--HS8Desc: text; product description at 8 digit level.
--TotalDesc: memo (>255 characters); product description at HS chapter, 2-digit, 4-digit, and 8-digit level. 
--ex: special exceptions to 8-digit tariff rates for certain products (duplicate HS8num value).
--Bound: bound tariff rate upon accession (2001).
--Final: bound tariff rate after phase-in of tariff reductions complete.
--Year: year in which phase-in of final bound tariff rate is complete.
--AG: agricultural products.
--ITA: information technology agreement products.
--Yr2002: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2002.
--Yr2003: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2003.
--Yr2004: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2004.
--Yr2005: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2005.
--Yr2006: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2006.
--Yr2007: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2007.
--Yr2008: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2008.
--Yr2009: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2009.
--Yr2010: numeric; value of tariff rate (e.g. "10" = 10 percent) in 2010.
--L&Q_Yr: year in which licensing and quota ntms are phased out.
--T_Yr: year in which tendering ntms are phased out.
--STD_Yr: year in which designated trading ntms are phased out.
--ntm1: numeric; 1=product subject to state trading (imports).
--ntm2: numeric; 1=product subject to state trading (exports).
--ntm3: numeric; 1=product subject to designated trading.
--ntm4a: numeric; 1=product subject to licensing (includes ntms to be phased out in 2001).
--ntm5a: numeric; 1=product subject to quotas (includes ntms to be phased out in 2001).
--ntm6a: numeric; 1=product subject to tendering (includes ntms to be phased out in 2001).
--ntm7: numeric; 1=product subject to price controls.
--ntm8: numeric; 1=product subject to government guidance pricing.
--ntm9: numeric; 1=product subject to export duties.
--ntmt: numeric; 1=product subject to tariff-rate quotas.
--EndRecord: numeric; always =1 to indicate end of record.


4.  Data fields in "GAO_Services.txt"

This file is a tab-delimited text file that can be imported into a variety of 
spreadsheet and database software packages.  It was extracted from 
"GAO_China_WTO_DB_v1.mdb" and contains 426 records. The first line of the file
contains the field names.  Each record contains a services sector or subsector 
for a particular mode of supply.  GAO's analysis is included.  

List of Fields:
 
--ORDER: numeric; orders the fields by service sector.
--MA_Order: numeric; second ordering variable for market access limitations.
--NT_ORDER: numeric; third ordering variable for national treatment limitations.
--GenCat: text; broad service sector.
--Subsector: text; service subsectors.
--Notes: text; footnotes from the service schedule.
--MA_Mode: numeric; mode of supply for market access.
--MA_Limits: memo (>255 characters); text description of limitations on market access (MA).
--MA_Phaseout: numeric; 1=phaseout period exists for MA limitations.
--MA_Xbrdr: numeric; 1=market access limitation on cross-border supply.
--MA_Form: numeric; 1=market access limitation on form.
--MA_Equity: numeric; 1=market access limitation on equity.
--MA_Geo: numeric; 1=geographic market access limitation.
--MA_Nat: numeric; 1=nationality market access limitation.
--MA_Num: numeric; 1=market access limitation on number.
--MA_Scope: numeric; 1=market access limitation on scope.
--MA_Qual: numeric; 1=market access limitation on qualifications.
--MA_Othr: numeric; 1=other market access limitation.
--NT_Mode: numeric; mode of supply for national treatment.
--NT_Limits: memo (>255 characters); text description of limitations on national treatment (NT).
--NT_Phaseout: numeric; 1=phaseout period exists for NT limitatons.
--NT_Xbrdr: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on cross-border supply.
--NT_Form: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on form.
--NT_Equity: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on equity.
--NT_Geo: numeric; 1=geographical national treatment limitation.
--NT_Nat: numeric; 1=nationality national treatment limitation.
--NT_Num: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on number.
--NT_Scope: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on scope.
--NT_Qual: numeric; 1=national treatment limitation on quaifications.
--NT_Othr: numeric; 1=other national treatment limitation.
--AddCommits: additional commitments.
--EndRecord: numeric; always =1 to indicate end of record.


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