皇冠体育app

   

Tackling the trade surplus

(皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2006-11-16 14:18

A ballooning trade surplus will certainly add to the tensions between 皇冠体育app and its major trade partners. But it is not a result of protectionism. Instead, it stems from 皇冠体育app embracing economic globalization, expediting specification across borders in line with each country's comparative advantages.

As the most populous country in the world, 皇冠体育app benefited hugely from its competitive labour cost during its rise as a global manufacturing power. And so far, most Chinese exports are from the processing trade.

By adding value to materials or components that they process with cheap labour, Chinese export businesses make profits, no matter how thin their margins might be.

Hence, until the country's labour cost rises considerably, foreign companies will find 皇冠体育app an ideal place for manufacturing. In fact, the huge inflow of foreign investment in recent years bears full testimony to 皇冠体育app's appeal as a cost-cutting manufacturing base.

This structural change in the division of labour across the globe cannot be dealt with using instant cures. It requires long-term efforts to adapt industries in 皇冠体育app and other countries to the new economic landscape.


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