1、1Rooting out the Causes of Trade FrictionI am a staunch supporter of free trade. When the financial crisis was spreading far and wide, trade protectionism did not dissipate; rather, it got worse. All countries should be fully alarmed by such a development,” said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on March 1
2、4, in reply to a journalist at the press conference. The global financial crisis has indisputably aggravated trade protectionism. In 2009, trade friction China encountered amounted to more than 100 cases, valued at US $12 billion, both record highs. Changing the Trade Itself On January 6, 2010, the
3、US Department of Commerce declared that it would impose preliminary anti-dumping duties of between 43 percent and 289 percent on steel laminates valued at US $300 million imported from China. By the end of February, several countries, such as the United States, members of the European Union, India,
4、and Argentina, declared anti-dumping 2investigations on Chinese products, or went ahead and imposed anti-dumping duties. Nine cases involved products such as steel laminates and copperplate paper. The frequency of trade friction is higher than the previous year. To this form of anti-dumping lawsuit
5、and disputes over intellectual property rights, Wan Jifei, president of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), observes that trade disputes appear to have become a new tool of trade protectionism. He commented, “Objectively speaking, since reform and opening-up the total
6、 volume of Chinas foreign trade confirms rapid growth, and it is normal under this condition to see an increase in trade friction. On the other hand, international trade protectionism is clearly emerging.” During an exclusive interview granted to China Today Wan Jifei said that China is facing such
7、a situation: there is an obvious continuity to the encounters with problems in trade. In the export of iron and steel, shoes, toys, aluminum products and tires which are the traditionally advantageous exports, a particular phenomenon has occurred frequently: trade remedy investigations are conducted
8、 on one product in different markets, forming a chain of disputes spreading across more 3countries, with remedy measures stacking up. Due to the rapid development of Chinas foreign trade, more and more anti-dumping lawsuits and intellectual property rights disputes involve Chinese enterprises. China
9、 has replaced Germany to conduct the highest volume of foreign trade, according to Wan Jifei, but most of its exports are labor-intensive products, and its foreign trade is still in the stage of expansion. China is typical of a“country big in manufacturing and small in brand names.” Such a rampant g
10、rowth arouses trade friction. Therefore, “the best way to address root causes is to change the growth mode of Chinas foreign trade, and follow a path of invigorating trade through science and technology, and market diversification.” Wan Jifei said, “We should accelerate strategic change by promoting
11、 the shift of labor-intensive industries from low-tech content to hi-tech content. This is a fundamental approach to managing the change from a big trade country to a strong trade country, and will effectively resolve future trade friction.” Laying the Investment Groundwork It is impossible for Chin
12、a to change the growth mode of its 4foreign trade in one go. But the lawsuits arising may drag Chinese enterprises into long-drawn-out process of investigation, evidence collecting and pleading. Wan Jifei suggests Chinese enterprises come up to speed on intellectual property rights coupled with rese
13、arch and investigation of international markets ripe for overseas investment. Anticipation and avoidance of conflict is entailed in this approach. In 2009, the global economy declined sharply, and the investment environment was transformed, including shakeups in various main investment destinations
14、and opportunities. In recent years, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade has done a great deal during this economic crisis to help Chinese enterprises to keep abreast of readjustments in investment policies in relevant countries. Knowledge of investment opportunities effectivel
15、y strengthens control of risks, and increases efficiencies. “For instance, we inform Chinese enterprises of the latest policies and legislation in target countries, developments in the international investment environment in general, associated relevant policies and investment opportunities. This in
16、telligence assists policy-makers to 5absorb the experiences of advanced enterprises in the transnational world, to familiarize themselves with and utilize the professional services of investment service organizations. The strategy is to improve chances of coping with the financial upheaval and explo
17、re commercial opportunities that surface.” In addition, the CCPIT also uses various means, including conventions and exhibitions, foreign liaisons, and information and legal services, to promote international trade, attract investment, and smooth economic cooperation. Wan Jifei said, “Our short-term
18、 objective is to help enterprises to find more trade opportunities; the intermediate and long-term goals are to help enterprises increase their capacity to produce independent brand names and technologies, eventually guiding enterprises from a made in China mode to an invented in China mode.” Many F
19、ronts Facing trade friction, the CCPIT uses its advantage of having extensive ties with chambers of commerce in various countries to remove doubts and increase mutual trust. To reduce Sino-US trade disputes, the CCPIT has held 6various activities, such as the “Sino-US Entrepreneur Roundtable Confere
20、nce” and “Sino-US Forum of Provincial Governors,” providing platforms for entrepreneurs to communicate. It has perfected the mechanism of Sino-US Business Dialogue, keeps close contact with relevant organizations and multinationals, to promote healthy development of relations between the two countri
21、es. With regard to trouble plaguing textile exporters to the US, and business visas, the CCPIT sent several letters to the leaders of the US Chamber of Commerce to convey the appeals and demands of affected Chinese enterprises. The CCPIT has also expanded international exchanges and cooperation vehi
22、cles related to trade arbitration and business mediation, and has established the Sino-US Business Mediation Center. Multilateral conferences such as the China International Credit the task of building platforms for international exchange and cooperation operates in an all-dimensional, multi-tiered
23、and wide-ranging pattern,” said Wan Jifei. He told this reporter that the CCPIT will also serve as a 7broader stage for Chinas overall economic development. In 2009, CCPIT branches at various levels gave suggestions to a range of enterprises coping with the financial crisis, and actively won credit
24、and funding for them, specifically a government fund valued at RMB 758.9 million (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise International Market Development Fund). Meanwhile, it provides legal services, mediation and arbitration for those determined to meet the challenges. “In the days to come, the CCPIT th
25、rough these services will continue to help the government and enterprises put these difficulties behind them. It will also undertake search for new solutions to international trade friction, and promote adoption of a new management mode featuring a systemic approach to facilitating preferential trea
26、tment in international trade: centralized evaluation of credentials and a systemic approach to authorization will accelerate the entry of more enterprises into solid trade relationships,” explained Wan Jifei. In 2010, the CCPIT will hold the EU-China Business Summit, the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, the China-Latin America Business Summit, and the APEC SME Summit, as well as Sino-French, Sino-Canadian and Sino-US bilateral cooperation forums. Enterprises exploring both new and traditional markets can rely 8on vigorous backing.
