The entity said it could not determine the size of Chinese government funds that it said were using public resources to make capital investments in key industries. "The incentives provided by these funds have generally not been notified to the WTO," he said.
The World Trade Organization said Wednesday it could not get a clear picture of China's financial support for key industrial sectors, such as electric vehicles or aluminum and steel production, due to a "general lack of transparency."
The WTO noted that the world's second-largest economy provided financial support and other incentives to industries during the 2021-2024 review period, but said Beijing did not provide enough information for the WTO to have a clear picture of the programs.
"The general lack of transparency over government support from China may also contribute to debates over what some perceive as overcapacity in certain sectors," the WTO report said, naming a range of sectors from semiconductors to shipbuilding. .
The WTO noted in particular that it could not determine the size of Chinese government funds that it said were using public resources to make capital investments in key industries. "The incentives provided by these funds have generally not been notified to the WTO," he said.
The WTO assessment was published as part of China's trade policy review, a process the organization's 166 members undergo every few years. China's last review was in 2021.
Other countries are set to respond to the 173-page assessment that takes an in-depth look at China's trade policies, noting that its importance in the global economy and trade has become even more pronounced during the period under review.
China says it operates according to market principles and Beijing has previously said it never uses banned subsidies for electric vehicles.
In a document submitted to the WTO as part of the review process, Beijing said it was in compliance with both WTO rules and the commitments it agreed to when it joined the body in 2001.
He added that he was open to talks on industrial subsidies and promoting development, but that such talks "should be clearly defined to avoid generalized and macroeconomic discussions about state intervention or industrial policies."
The United States and Australia have previously referred to China's "non-trade" practices and Washington called for progress at the WTO to address these issues.
All WTO members must respect the organization's anti-subsidy and countervailing measures agreement, which prohibits government subsidies that can be shown to have harmed the trade of other members or whose explicit purpose is to distort global trade.
