The China Institute for WTO Studies at University of International Business and Economics is one of China’s earliest academic institutions dedicated to the study of the GATT and the multilateral trading system. Its origins date back to 1991 with the establishment of the GATT Research Association. The Institute was formally founded in 2000 and was renamed the China Institute for WTO Studies in 2002. It is the only national key research base in China specializing in World Trade Organization (WTO) studies and was selected for the WTO Chairs Programme in 2021.
The Institute focuses on WTO rules and institutional mechanisms, employing interdisciplinary approaches from economics, political science, and law to examine the evolution of the multilateral trading system, global economic governance, and China’s integration into the world economy. It is committed to policy-oriented research and provides high-level advisory services to government and enterprises.
Since its establishment, the Institute has undertaken numerous major national and ministerial research projects and has built a strong reputation as a leading center for academic innovation, policy research, and international exchange in WTO studies in China.
