Title: Opening of China’s Service Industry in the 14th Fiveyear Plan — Taking RCEP and CPTPP as References

Authors: Cao Xiaorui, Li Xiaofu

Abstract: More than 20 years have passed since China joined the WTO, and the 14th Five-year Plan is being implemented. The Chinese government’s established policy is to commit itself to opening the service industry. However, many differences remain in the details of the terms of the CPTPP and RCEP related to trade in services. The contribution of this article is that, according to the specific requirements of the 14th Five- year Plan for opening China’s service industry, it compares the terms of trade in services between the RCEP and CPTPP and analyzes the main differences between these agreements. Finally, this article provides legal suggestions for further opening China’s service industry. As a large developing country, if China wants to catch up as soon as possible with the development of the international service industry and increase the opening of the service industry, it need first become aware of existing problems, clarify the differences between the current international advanced standard systems, and classify them according to their degree of implementation. While adjusting from easy to difficult, China has continuously stimulated market vitality and imagination on key issues such as policy formulation and regulatory transparency, service industry market openness, and data cross-border convenience.

Keywords: Trade in Services, China, CPTPP, RCEP, The 14th Five-year Plan