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Past Successes and New Challenges: China's Foreign Trade at a Turning Point

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  • Françoise Lemoine

Abstract

Since 1979, China has recorded a remarkable trade performance, which has been driven by international processing and the offshoring strategies of foreign firms. The diversification of Chinese exports and their technological upgrading have been phenomenal. However, there is also inertia, illustrated by the persistent dualism of the trade sector, the unrelenting specialization in downmarket products and the deteriorating terms of trade. These weaknesses have helped its partners to adjust to the rise of this new trade power. In the past decade, China's economy has faced the adverse effects of an export‐led growth and the global crisis has revealed its vulnerability. China is now forced to rebalance its economy. This will imply major changes in foreign trade, in favor of ordinary trade and away from processing. In the foreseeable future, China is unlikely to become the driver of international demand but will remain the engine of Asian economic integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Françoise Lemoine, 2010. "Past Successes and New Challenges: China's Foreign Trade at a Turning Point," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 18(3), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:chinae:v:18:y:2010:i:3:p:1-23
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-124X.2010.01193.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nan Li & Tianzhu Zhang & Jianchuan Qi & Yuanyi Huang, 2015. "Using Multiple Tools to Analyze Resource Exchange in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Chen, Minjia & Guariglia, Alessandra, 2013. "Internal financial constraints and firm productivity in China: Do liquidity and export behavior make a difference?," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 1123-1140.
    3. Françoise Lemoine & Sandra Poncet & Deniz Ünal & Clément Cassé, 2015. "L’usine du monde au ralenti ou le changement de régime du commerce extérieur chinois," Working Papers 2015-04, CEPII research center.
    4. Minjia Chen & Alessandra Guariglia, 2011. "Financial constraints and firm productivity in China: do liquidity and export behavior make a difference?," Discussion Papers 11/09, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    5. Françoise Lemoine, 2013. "From foreign trade to international investment: a new step in China’s integration with the world economy," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 25-43, March.
    6. Chen, Wanling & Hu, Yao & Liu, Bei & Wang, Hui & Zheng, Mingbo, 2022. "Does the establishment of Pilot Free Trade Test Zones promote the transformation and upgradation of trade patterns?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 114-128.
    7. Kappel, Robert, 2010. "On the Economics of Regional Powers: Comparing China, India, Brazil, and South Africa," GIGA Working Papers 145, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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