CHINA'S TRADE POLICY CHANGES: ARGUMENTS AND CRITICISMS

Abstract

Foreign trade is one of the main drivers of China’s spectacular rise. As it has
become a determining factor in world trade, its composition, competitiveness,
characteristics, and methods have become important for the whole world. This
article provides a political examination of the Chinese foreign trade architecture,
considers the criticisms related to it, and the Chinese rationale. It concludes that
China – according to its intentions – has tried to fit into the institutional order of
world trade, but at the same time has brought in its peculiarities that sometimes
have stretched this order apart. The main determinant of this is China's statecenteredness and bureaucracy.
Keywords: Chinese foreign trade, export processing trade, dual foreign trade
system, unfair trade practices
JEL Codes: F13, F50, F63