Prior to China's accession to the WTO, the government had maintained tight control over import-export trade. Foreign companies generally were not permitted to import goods for sale in the mainland. In 2003, with the merger of the State Economic and Trade Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) into the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), domestic and foreign trade began to come under unified management. In 2004, China fully liberalised foreign trade. At the end of 2004, foreign commercial enterprises were allowed to be established, making it possible for foreign companies to import goods for sale in China.