In The News

Market-Economy Status for China Is Not Automatic

Bernard O’Connor December 8, 2011
As the euro flounders, China considers coming to Europe’s rescue in exchange for receiving immediate market-economy status – so that the value of its exported goods won’t be subjected to outside costs and prices. Armed with such status, China would be subjected to fewer anti-dumping charges. And many global leaders say why not, since China is set to automatically achieve market-economy status by...

Brazilian Paves Way for China’s Carmakers

Joe Leahy November 29, 2011
With a burgeoning middle class, the Brazilian automotive market has expanded rapidly, becoming the fourth largest in the world in 2010. In such a fast-growing market, Brazilian consumers have developed no brand loyalty and show no aversion to foreign models, explains Joe Leahy of the Financial Times. So taking advantage of a market opportunity, Chinese car manufacturers like JAC Motors are...

Russian Industries May Rile WTO by Undermining Trade Pledges

November 18, 2011
For nearly 20 years, Russia has worked on its bid for membership in the World Trade Organization. If approved by trade ministers in December, its entry will be the biggest step in global trade liberalization since China’s admission, according to the World Bank. Russia’s economy grew by more than 4 percent in 2010 and WTO membership could expand that to 11 percent by 2020. Oil and gas account...

Chasing Rare Earths, Foreign Companies Expand in China

Keith Bradsher August 30, 2011
Besides a huge market and inexpensive labor, China’s lure for foreign firms has now been revealed to be its vast holdings of rare earth minerals, essential for manufacturing cell phones, hybrid cars and other electronic products. “Companies that continue making their products outside the country must contend with tighter supplies and much higher prices for the materials because of steep taxes and...

WTO Says Chinese Restrictions on Raw Materials Break Rules

Stephen Castle July 8, 2011
Under World Trade Organization rules, countries engaged in global trade can’t suddenly turn protectionist. The WTO agreed with a 2009 complaint from the US, Mexico and Europe that ”Chinese quotas, export duties and license requirements put in place a discriminatory system for the sale overseas of industrial raw materials widely used in the steel, aluminum and chemicals industries,” reports...

Wolf at the Door: What Happened to the Predictions of Doom?

Gregory Chin June 10, 2011
As China prepared to accede to the World Trade Organization, analysts worried about a globalization trap, including crippling competition for its industries and farmers, a loss of sovereignty and disruption to the nation’s anticipated trajectory of growth, explains Gregory Chin, chair of the China Research Group at the Center for International Governance Innovation. Specialists fretted about...

WTO Doha Round: Do or Die

Richard Baldwin, Simon Evenett May 6, 2011
The deadlocked Doha Round of trade negotiations, nearly a decade old, has been subjected to numerous delays. With the political calendar making it difficult for major players to make concessions, time is running out to complete negotiations, contend Richard Baldwin and Simon Evenett, professors of international economics and international trade, respectively. Economic hardship, elections and...