This country study focuses on the environmental, economic and social effects of trade liberalization on the rice sector in China. It demonstrates that the WTO Agreements on Agriculture did not have much impact, but that the regional agreements are more likely to have one. This study also demonstrates that in many instances, other factors of liberalization, including changes in the exchange rate and measures of internal market liberalization, have had a more profound impact than the multilateral trading system. Research institutions in this country, which are familiar with the local economy, the environmental challenges and the policy priorities, conducted this assessment.