The “twenty foreign films” policy operated by China will next year become a piece of history, with China agreeing to implement the World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes tribunal finding that the country must open its doors to foreign content.
A statement issued on the WTO website states
We wish to inform you that, pursuant to Article 21.3(b) of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, China and the United States have agreed that the reasonable period of time for China to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body (“DSB”) in the dispute China – Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and Audiovisual Entertainment Products (WT/DS363) shall be 14 months from the 19 January 2010 date of adoption of the DSB recommendations and rulings. Accordingly, the reasonable period of time expires on 19 March 2011.
