The Association of American Publishers, the national trade association of the US book publishing industry, recently issued a statement on the decision by the World Trade Organization Appellate Body affirming that China is in violation of its WTO obligations.
According to the statement, the Association welcomes the Appellate Body’s findings that certain measures employed by China to restrict the importation and distribution of reading materials are incompatible with its WTO obligations. The decision is seen as a significant development for the US publishing industry. It is hoped that this will pave the way for further liberalisation of the Chinese market. Increased access to China’s market is expected to benefit US and Chinese creators and will offer Chinese consumers a greater variety of copyrighted works.
The Association of American Publishers’ more than 300 members include most of the major commercial publishers in the US, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses and scholarly societies—small and large. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field, educational materials for the elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and professional markets, scholarly journals, computer software, and electronic products and services. The protection of intellectual property rights in all media, the defense of the freedom to read and the freedom to publish at home and abroad, and the promotion of reading and literacy are among the Association’s highest priorities.
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