The 2011National Trade Estimate (NTE) report on "Foreign Trade Barriers" was issued this week by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.  And surprise, surprise-- China isn't playing fair when it comes to trade.

How about a few brief excerpts regarding China's barriers (EDITOR'S NOTE: we've shortened and abridged many of these items to reduce the technical talk-- to make them more accessible, more of a quick read):

**China has imposed criteria for obtaining approval to pursue new wind power projects that, in effect, appear to discriminate against foreign enterprises.

**China issued a new automobile industrial policy...that unfairly discriminated against imported automotive parts and discouraged automobile manufacturers in China from using imported automotive parts in the assembly of vehicles.

**China has continued to impose restraints on exports of raw materials.

**Persistent inadequacies in the protection and enforcement of IPR represent barriers to U.S. exports and investment.

**China agreed to eliminate all subsidies prohibited under Article 3 of the WTO Agreement... Under the prevailing rules, however, investors are still “encouraged” to follow some of the formerly mandated practices.

**Telecommunications Equipment...There have been continuing reports of MIIT adopting policies to discourage the use of imported components or equipment.

**In 2010, respondents from the United States and other WTO Members continued to express concerns about key lapses in transparency and procedural fairness in China’s conduct of antidumping investigations

**China issued a Steel and Iron Industry Development Policy (Steel Policy) in July 2005...it includes a host of objectives and guidelines that raise serious concerns...requires that foreign enterprises seeking to invest in Chinese iron and steel enterprises possess proprietary technology or intellectual property in the processing of steel...this requirement would seem to constitute a de facto technology transfer requirement, raising concerns given China’s commitments...not to condition
investment rights...on the transfer of technology.

**China still maintains high duties on some products that compete with sensitive domestic industries.

**Nontariff Barriers...many U.S. industries...face significant nontariff barriers to trade...These barriers include...regulations that set high thresholds for entry into service sectors such as banking, insurance and telecommunications, selective and unwarranted inspection requirements for agricultural imports, and the use of questionable sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to control import volumes.

**China committed to eliminate all subsidies prohibited under Article 3 of the WTO...To date, China has submitted only one of its annually required subsidies notifications.

**China has continued to restrict the importation...of copyright-intensive products...in contravention of its trading...commitments.

Read the full report on China.