The Library

'Made in China': the growth of Chinese trade

Tools

Breslin, Shaun (1998) 'Made in China': the growth of Chinese trade. Working Paper. Coventry: University of Warwick. Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation. Working papers (University of Warwick. Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation) (No.19/).

Preview

PDF
WRAP_Breslin_wp1998.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (824Kb)

Official URL: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/csgr/research/wo...

Abstract

This paper traces the growth of Chinese exports in the post-Mao era, and the implications for policy making within China. The first part of the paper provides a statistical overview of the growth in Chinese trade since 1978, and suggests that this growth was achieved through a combination of two key factors. First, by the retention of a relatively closed economic system, which protected Chinese producers from international competition and promoted and supported export industries. Second, through the attraction of export oriented foreign direct investment into China, particularly after 1993.

While export-led growth has made a significant contribution to job creation in China, it has also complicated ongoing debates over the political wisdom and viability of further economic liberalisation. For example, external pressures to liberalise, particularly from the United States, have increased as China’s trade surplus with the US has grown. Although many within the Chinese decision making elites resist this external pressure, concerns over structural problems within the domestic Chinese economy have led to key Chinese leaders, most notably Premier Zhu Rongji, accepting and promoting the liberalisation agenda. Declining export growth in the wake of the financial crises in East Asia has reinvigorated the debate over liberalisation, and also raised questions over the maintenance of social stability in urban China as the reform process continues.

Item Type:

Working or Discussion Paper (Working Paper)

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
D History General and Old World > DS Asia

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

International trade, Free trade -- China, Financial crises -- Asia, China -- Commerce

Series Name:

Working papers (University of Warwick. Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation)

Publisher:

University of Warwick. Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation

Place of Publication:

Coventry

Official Date:

December 1998

Dates:

Date	Event
December 1998	Published

Number:

No.19/

Number of Pages:

Status:

Not Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

References:

Ash, R. and Kueh, Y.Y. (1995) "Economic Integration within Greater China: Trade and
Investment Flows Between China, Hong Kong and Taiwan" in Shambaugh, D. (ed.) Greater
China: The Next Superpower? (Oxford: OUP) pp59-93.
Bachman, D. (1988) “Varieties of Chinese Conservatism and the Fall of Hu Yaobang” in The
Journal of Northeast Asian Studies Spring, pp.22-46.
Bernard. M. and Ravenhill, J. (1995) "Beyond Product Cycles and Flying Geese:
Regionalization, Hierarchy, and the Industrialization of East Asia" World Politics 47 pp171-
209.
Bernstein, R. and Munro, R. (1998) The Coming Conflict With China (Vancouver: Vintage
Books).
Breslin, S. (1992) “China’s Interrupted Evolution” in The Journal Of Communist Studies 8
(1) pp.63-83.
Breslin, S. (1996) China in the 1980s: Centre-Province Relations in a Reforming Socialist
State (New York: St Martins and Basingstoke: Macmillan).
Anita Chan (1996) "Boot Camp at the Show Factory: Regimented Workers in China's Free
Labour Market" in The Washington Post 3 Nov.
Chen Qiuping (1993) “News Brief” in Beijing Review Feb, p.15.
Dale, H. (1997) “The Economic Integration of Greater South China: the Case of Hong-Kong-
Guangdong Province Trade” in Chai, J., Kueh, Y.Y., and Tisdell, C. (eds) China and the Asia
Pacific Economy (Commack, N.Y.: Nova Science).
The Economist (1995) “China: World trade ordeal” in The Economist 4 November.
Harding, J. (1997) “Jitters in Beijing” in The Financial Times Nov 10, p.19.
Hughes, C. (1997) “Globalisation and Nationalism: Squaring The Circle In Chinese
International Relations Theory” in Millennium 26 (1) pp: 103 –126.
Jin Bei (1997) “The International Competition Facing Domestically Produced Goods and the
Nation’s Industry” in Social Sciences in China 18 (1).
Katzenstein, P. (1996) “Regionalism in a Comparative Perspective” in Cooperation and
Conflict 31 (2).
Kueh, Y.Y. (1997) “China and the Prospects for Economic Integration within APEC” in
Chai, J., Kueh, Y.Y., and Tisdell, C. (eds) China and the Asia Pacific Economy (Commack,
N.Y.: Nova Science).
Kui-yin Cheung (1997) “Hong Kong’s Outward Processing Investment in China:
Implications for Hong Kong Economy” in Chai, J., Kueh, Y.Y., and Tisdell, C. (eds) China
and the Asia Pacific Economy (Commack, N.Y.: Nova Science).
Lardy, N. (1994) China and the World Economy (Washington: Institute for International
Economics).
China News Digest (30/9/98) “China Daily Editorial Lashes Out at US over Trade Imbalance
Accusations”.
Niyonzima, M. (1997) “The EU Anti-Dumping Policy Towards Asia” in Dzever, S and
Jaussaud, J. (eds) Perspectives on Economic Integration and Business Strategy in the Asia-
Pacific Region (London: Macmillan) pp.62-76.
Ruggiero, R. (1997) “China and the World Trading System” Speech at Beijing University, 21
April.
Song Qiang, Zhang Cangcang and Qiao Bian (1996) Zhongguo Keyi Shuo Bu (China Can
Say No) (Beijing: Zhonghua Gongshang Lianhe Chubanshe).
Taylor, R. (1993) “Japanese Investment Strategy and Management Training in China” in
Asian Affairs 24, pp.315-326.
Walker, T. (1997a) “Stockpiles disguise China's slowdown: Consumer industry growth
leading to inventory build-up in factory warehouses'” in The Financial Times 21 March
Walker, T. (1997b) “China Aims To Cap City Jobless At 4 Per Cent Despite Reforms” in The
Financial Times 16 Sep.
Wang Yong (1998) “Momentum vital for GDP Exports Require Stimulus” in China Daily 21
May.
World Bank (1997) China Engaged (Washington DC: World Bank).