Defining Developing Countries in International Economic Law: The Case of China and the World Trade Organisation (Law, Development and Globalization)

Through a detailed analysis of the example of China and the World Trade Organization, this book considers how developing countries are defined and, more importantly, how developing countries could be better defined in international economic law.

What is a developing country? How should developing countries be categorized for the purpose of providing aid or support? Is China still a developing country despite being the world's second-largest economy? There are currently a variety of ways in which developing countries are categorized, none of which are satisfactory. Once a country is designated as 'developing', it then receives significant developmental support and aid. This book aims to contribute to identifying innovative solutions to the question of how developing countries should be designated in the field of international economic law. The book uses the example of China and its controversial continuing status as a developing country by the World Trade Organization in order to provide an in-depth analysis of the wider issue of how developing countries should be defined and categorized in international economic law.

This book will be of interest to scholars in international economic law, law and development, political science, and international relations, as well as policymakers working in relevant areas.

Kristie Thomas is Head of Aston Law School at Aston University, Birmingham, UK. She joined Aston Law School as Senior Lecturer in January 2017. She previously worked as a lecturer in business law at Nottingham University; she also gained her PhD from Nottingham in 2008; her doctoral research concerned the intellectual property system in China following World Trade Organization accession in 2001. She also holds an MA in Chinese studies (with distinction) from the University of Leeds, and her undergraduate law degree was completed at the University of Sheffield. Her current research interests combine elements of law and business, reflecting her research interests in international trade, intellectual property, comparative law, and business practice more generally. She has a particular interest in Asia, having spent two years based at the University of Nottingham’s China campus from 2004-2006 and having previously also lived in Taiwan for two years.